Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1922-03-16
CHAPTER VlI-Continued.

CHAPTER VlI-continued.
At four o'clock Richard came home,
and the instant Harriet saw his face
she realized, with a shock even sharp
er than the original moment of in
credulity, that he had bad no success
in his search. He was alone. His
face was drawn and gray. he looked
hot and rumpled and utterly weary;
more, he who had always, been the
pink of well-groomed perfection
looked old He asked BOttOmley
briefly if Madame Carter was in her
room, and, being informed that she
was, went hastily upstairs.
1t was to the old ladys beautiful
sitting room that Harriet was sum-
moned few minutes later. She knew
at once that he had told his mother
all he knew and feared.
Madame Carter was shockingly agi-
tated. She had deep sense of the
dramatic, but she was not entirely act
ing now. Her face was pale under its
rouge, and the painful tears of age
stood in her eyes.
"Miss Field!" said Madame Carter,
"we have just had a most terrible-a
most unexpected-blow!
Harriet simulated expectancy.
"There is every reason to believe"
pursued Madame Carter majestically
"that my unfortunate daughter-in-law
Mr.. Carriers wife, Isabelle. has yield
ed to the passion of her lover! No,
let me talk, Richard" she interrupted
herself. as the man raised haggard
eyes to watch her impersonally, "far
better to face the facts, my dear! My
son tells me, Miss Field the-the
well-nigh Incredible statement that
| forgetting the honor of womanhood,
and the tender claims Of maternity"
Miss Field" Richard did not have
the manner of interruption. but his
quiet voice dominated the other voice
! none the less Madame Carter fell ST.
| lent and watched him with mournful
pride. Miss Field" he said, 1--WE
want your help. The facts are these !:
| Williams had all the roads watched !;
they did not go by motor. Mrs. Car
| ter reached New London at five o'clock
yesterday; Pope's boat. the Geisha,
pulled out at half-past six. From
what Williams men picked up, at the
dock, Pope did not expect her. was to
have sailed this morning. She ar
rived. and evidently he thought it wise
to hurry their start. The pier had a
dozen boxes for the Geisha on it, gro
ceries and what not, that they left
behind! They will probably skirt the
coast for few days and put in
somewhere for supplies. But that
he passed his hand wearily across his
fOrehead-"that doesn't concern us
now. We got there at ten last night
hours too late, of course" His voice
fell. he mused, with knitted brow
"Well !" he said, suddenly recalling
himself. Now, Miss Field. want
you to get hold of Ward. l want the
boy home at once! He must know
But there is of course a chance that
Mrs. Carter isis planning to return
There may be woman friend with
her-it's not probable, but it's posi-
ble l don't want any one in the
house. or out of it, to suspect. and il
you think it is possible. should like
Nina protected
"I understand" Harriet said. quiet
ly. She crossed the hall, and for the
first time in four years entered Isa
bellies suite unannounced. 1t was II
NfE
noon light were falling on tue gay
walls and the bright chintzes. The
novels Isabelle had been skimming
the gold service of her dressing table
the great four-poster with its deeps o.
transparent white embroideries ovel
white. all spoke of the beautiful WON
an who had spent so many hours here
On the dressing table. with its splen
did length doubled in the mirror. wa.
the great fan that her hand had idly
welded, only few days ago, in al
hour of domestic felicity and happi
ness
What to tell Nina ?-she wondered
going downstairs. But Nina proved
pleasantly Indifferent to the materna
| absence when she and Amy came III
from the tennis court for tea. To tn,
guest or two who came calling Har
rfet. installed quite naturally now be
hind the cups and saucers. exDlaine,
that Mrs. Carter was visiting wifi
misunderstanding beautiful time, toe
apparently.
Perhaps Nina suspected that some
thing was unusual. She looked iron
her father to Harriet. and after
moments silence asked abruptly:
when is Mother coming back?"
|, Il don't Know" her father an
,, EwPred, quickly.
Say, listen; are we going to dress?
asked Amy. Nina, instantly diverted
suggested that they go in. Nina
awkward bigness and Amy's nous
neutral tones were as well displaye
In one garment as another, but bot
girls, debated over pinks and blue.
crepes and mulls, every evening. a
II the world was watching them alon,
! Rar-3et fingered for only a word.