Mexico weekly ledger., 1922-01-19
cHApTER v.

".
Harriet slept in the room with Julia
end Josephine that night, or rather
tossed and lay wakeful there. At
about two O'Clock the wind STRAINED
mercifully In, hot and thick, but
prophetic Of rain, and Harriet. wan
derinR about to make windows fast,
encountered Linda, on the same err
rand. When the worst Of the crack
ling and flashing was over, the girl
glanced at her watch. Three o'clock,
but she could sleep now. She sank
deeply into dreams, mot to stir until
KSnde,s alarm cieck,. hastily snnesh-
cred, thrilled ct seven, and the small
s1xls rose with cheerful noise. 70 let
streams Of hot sunshine upon her face.
Immediately after breakfast Ae
rive small girls attacked their Satur-
day mornings work with a philosophic
yieor that rather touched their aunt.
Fred had hurried away after his hasty
mealt the boys were turned out Into
the backyard, which Pip was expected
TO rake while he watched his small
brother.
Harriet's heart ached deeply for
them all as she watched the Jersey
marshes from the car window a few
hours later. Josephine was to be a
s~tenographer when she finished high
school. and little Julia had expressed
an angelic ambition to teach a kinder
karten class some day. Nina. at their
ages, had her pony, her finishing
school, her little silk stockings, and
her monogrammed ivory toilet set,
her trip to England and France and
italy with her mother and brother
and grandmother.
Suppose that she, Harriet, was right
in s~uspecting that Wards feeling was
more than the passing gallantry OF
q light-heaEted boyf II would be a
nine-days' wonder, his marriage at
twenty-five with his mothers secre-
tary, more than four years his senior.
Rut after thatf After thar there
weuld be nothing to say or do. young
NJ. and Mrs. Ward Carter would es-
tsbllsh themselves comfortably, and
the elder Carriers would visit them;
Isabelle absorbed AZ usual in her OWN
a~assterions thoughts, and Richard
Carter 8
Harriet's thoughts. none too COM
fertable up 10 this point. stopped here,
and she flushed. She would not enjoy
telling Richard that she was to marry
lii son. Those keen eyes would read
Der through and through, and while
Aar fatheranlaw might love her, and
zee her beauty and charm with all
the rest Of the world, Harriet knew
shat she must begin an actual am
paign for his esteem on her wedding
day. The prospect had an unexpect-
ID piQuancy. She had little fear Of
its outcome. She would make Ward
Carter a wife for whom his father
must come TO feel genuine gratitude
and devotion. There would be chill
dren, there would be hospitality and
snusie and a garden. And Ward
should seriously settle down to his
Business. whatever II might be, and
SHOW himself a worthy son Of his
clever father.
"Why not--why mott" Harriet asked
Aerself, as she reached Madame Car
eer's pretentious apartment house. and
was whisked upstairs. She was to
meet Nina here, and she glanced about
for the big limousine at the curb, as an
indication that the old lady might be
ssady to accompany them back to
Onownlands. But there was no car In
eight. The maids FIRST statement was
tAat Miss Carter had gone home with
her brother, and then Madame Carter
cam magnlficently into the room.
"Well, our bird has fiowni" said the
cid lady. Harriet could see that she
was pleased about something.
"Gone home with WsrdT Harriet
asked. Madame Carter never shook
hands with her; there was conscious
superiority In the little omission. She
sank into . chair, and Harriet sat
aewh. h Il s,.4
''Fard and his friend, this Mr.. Bloh.
din" Madame Carter said. "A very
fnteresting-a most unusual q A
very good family. too-excellents old
family. Yes. Nina assured US that she
had to walt and 80 home with her
Daddy, but that" Madame Carries
ave Harriet d deeply significant smile
-1but that didn't seem to please
Somebody very muchi' she added. ESD
I told Nina | thought Granny would b.
able to make II all right with Daddy
and Off the young people went.
She rocked, with d benignly tri
nnaphant expression. and q complaceni
rustic Of silken skirts. Harriet, be
meath an automatic smile. hid q iron
bs6d heart Regal wal losing no time
Ward HIS innocent Instrument, and thgi
3a&neus Ole lady or course playing hii
game for hiraI
Harriet saw that she was pleaset
and battered by an older mans appar
eut admiration Of Nina; and that sh,
would further the girls first defnit,
affair ia every way that lay In heI
power. 1t was maddening: II was ex
a~sperating beyond words. An homes
warning would hare merely natteres
her With It'll implication Of her inpor
xanna. - M Fmahnlla asA HARRIS