The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1922-03-10

: factly. Il brought home paper to
: night; / wanted Unger to see IT.
: left 1t In the suit wore"
!: He stepped to the dressing room
: and probed In a pocket. without NOV,
ing his pleasant look from her.
"Giving my room the once over?" he
said.
nina left the door open. I've never
been In here before" Harriet said, try
ing 70 make her voice as natural as
his own. Confused and ashamed, she
was hardly conscious of what she said.
Here we are" Richard glanced at
the paper he had found "See here.
he said, presently, going to win
dow. come here a minute, i want to
show you this You see." they were
both looking out into the moonlight
now. you see, this is where / propose
TO build on that big room downstairs,
throw the library into the blue room,
and have big sleeping porch upstairs
here" he explained Perfectly FEAST
bic. and yet 1t viii make different
house of IT ~
Harriet commented interestedly
enough. But she heard his voice
/ rather than his words, and saw only
the well-groomed. black-clad figure, the
shining patent-leather shoes, the fine
hand that Indicated the changes.
Perhaps he was conscious of confu-
sion, too, for his words stopped, and
presently they were looking at each
other in a strange silence. Richard still
smiling, Harriet wide eyed.
Then suddenly his strong arms held
her close. and her blue, frightened
eyes were close to his, and she felt
everything else in the world slip away
from her except the exquisite knowl-
edge that she loved this man with all
her heart and soul.
81 want to tell you something"
Richard said, quickly and incoherent-
ly. 81 want you to know that / love
you'll think I've always loved you
this wasn't In our bond, know, but l
think l couldn't have wanted you so
without loving you Tiff the time
comes, Harriet, when you can care for
me, you'll tell me, won't you? That's
all l want. just to know that you will
tell me. You're going to tell me, your
self I'm going to make you love me
I'll be patient-Tll not hurry you-but
some day you'll have to tell me that
rve-Ive won YOU"
He had spoken swiftly, almost stern
ly, with sort of desperate determina-
tion. Now he freed her arms as sud-
denly as he had grasped them, and
added. in lower tone:
until that time I'll not-not even
kiss the top of your hair, Harriet"
he said
In the mad rushing of her senses
she could not find the right word
but she detained him with an entreat-
ing hand. Her eyes, shining with a
look that he had never seen there be-
fore, were fixed on his. But Richard
did not look at her eyes, he looked
down at the hand she had laid on
his own.
II don't think" Harriet said breath
lessly that ! can ever like you any
more than l dor
4, She had meant 1t for surrender; her
heart was beating wildly with the
glorious shame of proud woman who
gives herself. But Richard was not
looking at the betraylng eyes. In the
great new love that had swept him
from all his old mornings there was a
leep humility. He only heard her say
hat she could never learn to love him.
He bent his head over her finger tips,
md kissed them. as he said quietly:
"But I'm going to try to make you. I
ust the samel"
Then he was gone, and Harriet was
standing alone In the softly lighted
DOM. For a few moments she re-
NAMED perfectly still. with her white
lands pressed TO her burning cheeks. I
Then, shaken with JOY and surprise.
With a delicious terror and something | |
4 chlld's innocent chagrin, she {
vent noiselessly back to her own
DOM, closed the communicating door, $
nd undressed with pauses for the @
reams that would come creeping a
yer body and SOUL and hold her in /
heir exquisite stiffness for long min f
ties together n
She was brushing her hair when I
Ina suddenly appeared. and came n
felessly in to sit on the edge of
[arriet's bed t
81 want to ask you something's v
ina said, In an odd voice. sand,
Iarriet | want you to tell me the a
nth 70 81
Harriet turning, faced her between Il
vo curtains of ripping gold. She II
NV new Nina. subdued, thought 81
II. serious woman in the old conf k
INT Nina's place. a,
But first | ought to tell you that
wasn't with Amy todayl" Nina said d,
"Oh. Nina Must we begin that sort 1t
tbing?" Harriet reproached her
ut she was puzzled by Ninas man. W
r. Back to schoolgirl tricks ~ she XII
i'd.
"Never back to school girl" Nina Ca
I'd. passionately. 'I'll never be that
ain. Harriet" she went on. "Ive r.
ritten Royal three times. since my m
rthday, and I've seen him twice"
"You saw him today?' Harriet ven ri,
red.