The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1922-03-31

about at all. You're tired," said
Richard, abruptly.
Indeed I'm not % the girl protested.
with white lips.
You don't imagine tie man Is seri-
ousT' Richard asked. alarmed by her
manner.
81 don't knowI" Harriet answered
at random. ''They'ye-they've hardly
known each other three weeksl'
"Ah, well! And she is only seven
teen," her father said. Distract her,
amuse her-if she's inclined to Nope
a bit Get riding horses"
No time to think-no time to trim
her course. Harriet must plunge
blindly ahead now.
Mr.. Carter. would you-if you
think wise-give your mother hint
of this? Madame Carter is romantic,
you know"
"Oh, certainly! Certainly" he said.
approvingly. 'I'l speak to her. We
must keep Nina a little girl this sum-
mer. And. Miss Field"
It was said with only a slight change
in the pleasant voice. But 1t brought
sudden change in their relationship,
Tightening Of the bonds that were
all Harriet's world now.
Miss Field, I may say here and
now that it is an unmixed privilege,
in my estimation" Richard Carter
said, simply, that my daughter. and
my son, too, for the matter Of that,
should have the advantage Of your
influence, and your example, at this
time. l have never been unapprecia-
tive of the value of a simple, good,
unspoiled woman in my household.
have seen the effect In a thousand
ways. But at the present moment,
hardly know where I could turn with
out you. / can only hope that In some
way the Carriers may be able to repay
you!'
The secretary's shining head dropped,
| and she rested her elbow on the table,
| and pressed a white hand tight across
| her eyes for a moment of silence
When she faced him again her face
was little pale and her magnificent
| eyes heavy with tears.
Il love all the Carriers" she said
simply. Il only wish I were-half
what you say!"
And without another word she stood
| up, folded into tiny oblong the pa
| per upon which she had been making
a few notes, and went slowly to the
| library door. More deeply stirred
than she had been since the days of
| her passionate girlhood, she turned on
the threshold for a look of farewell.
But Richard Carter had left the desk,
and was kneeling on one knee before
his safe; he had forgotten her. Har-
riet went across the hall, mounted the
stairs, and found her own room. She
was hardly conscious of what she was
doing or thinking.
"Oh, what shall / do?" she whis-
pered. HE trusts me to protect her
Oh, why didn't 1.-THE moment I knew
that Royal was thinking Of her-why
| didn't I go to him then, and make q
clean breast Of it all Now-now I've
promised! And they trust me and
love me-and what shall I do! Oh
God" whispered Harriet, sinking on
her knees beside the bed, you know
that | am good-You know that I can
really help them all-can really pro.
tect the girl! You know how l have
chosen what was fine and good, all
these years, how have longed for an
opportunity to be useful and happy
Don't let him come into my life again
and spoil it again. Don't let Richard
Carter lose faith in me, and despise
me! l don't know what's the matter
with me-" sobbed Harriet, burying her
brimming eyes in the pillows II never
cry, haven't cried like this for years
and years! 1 think I'm losing my
mind!"