The Jasper news. [volume] (Jasper, Missouri) 1898-1924, 1922-01-26
CHAPTER u.

Madame Carter, gathering her drnp'
cries about her, was one of the first
to leave the terrace. Dressing for
dinner was a slow and serious bust
ness for her. She gave Harriet cold,
appraislng glance as she passed her;
Richard Carter had risen tn escort his
mother, but she delayed him for mo-
Incnt.
Miss Nina gone in, Miss Field?"
Harriet, whose manner with all old
persons was the essence OF scrupulouS
1ormality, rose at once TO her feet.
nina has gong TO change her dress,
Madame Carter"
''She took it upon herself TO ask
you to help us out this nfternOOnT'
the old lady added, with the sort OF
gracious cruelty Of which she was mis-
tress. Richard Carter gave his daugh-
ter's companion look that asked in
diligence.
Harriet said nothing. and resumed
her seat as the old lady rustlcd slowly
away. who's comlng?" she asked IN
an undertone, 10 Ward, as one more
motor swept about the carriage drive
"Wbat is II, Beautifully" Ward
laughed. Uarriet's glorious eyes Wild
cned into smiling warning. His open
and boyish admiration was a sort of
joke between them. Yet in this sec
nnd. as he craned his nccl; TO get a
glimpse of the approaching guests, a
sudden thought was born in her.
Honor had compelled her 10 gen.
erOus policy with Ward. She had held
his admiration firmly in check; she
had MAJ ntained bl:.siStcr attitude
that was as wholesome for herself as
for him.
hut here she thought with sudden
satisfaction, might be the realization
Of her oNn ambition, after all. Ward
was but four years her junior. and
Ward would be Richard Carriers heir.
IT'S the Bclnmys and their crowd,
said Wari. watching the approach of
HcwcOmelS. Look at that man With
them, That fellow with the hair
that's BlOlIiinl That's the man / wns
telling yOI about the other night, the
man whose name couldn't rcmcm-
bcrv'
"NlpI'
Hnrriet G,d not know whether Sht
said il Or screamed II. She lost all
Consciousness OF her surroundings ana
hnr neiShbors for few terrible sec
Onds; her mouth was dry, her throat
CONSTRUCTED, and Eideous weakness
ran like nausea through her cntir,
body. The hand with which SHE
touched the sugar tongs was Icy cold
pain split her forehead. and she fell
suddenly tired and broken.
Ward had gone across TO greet thu
Bellamys; Harriet fixed her eye
with sort Of fascination upon tn,
man 10 whom she presently saw hin
talking. Almost everyone else in thr
group was looking ut him. too; Roya
Bl0ndin was used TO Il; one of hi
favOTite afrcctations was an npparen
Inconsistencies of being observed.
Well ever six feet in height, he hat
dropped his lconine head. with it
thick locks of dark hair, little OF
ono side; his mobile, thin lips wer
set, and his piercing eyes searched tn
boys face with sort Of passlonat
attention.
Introductions were In order, every
ore wanted TO meet the Bellaulys
friend. and Harriet saw that 1t please
him, for some inscrutable reason, I
continue his ridiculous cow Hsatio
with the flattcred Ward, and TO accep
names and greetings absently, in a
aside, as II were, smiling perfunctoIil
and briefly at the eager girls an
women, and returning Immediately {
his concerned and passionate under
tones with the boy.
II was Isabelle who brought him I
the ;ea table. Harriet had felt, vii
sure premonitton Of disaster. that