The Jasper news., 1922-02-16
CHAPTER VII.

That 1subelle's madness would run
Its full gamut did not occur to Harriet
until the next day. Then. MS tho serene
hours moved by. and there was No
word and no sign from Richard, the
possibilities began 20 suggest them.
selves. II seemed to her incredible
that any woman would risk nli that
Isabelle had for the sake of Il fiery
boys first love, and yet. on the other
hand, there was the memory 0T lsa.
bellies suffering two nights ago, AMI
here we're the nmnzing facts Ia prove
Il.
II was for few wvincn To enjoy tho
popularity Isabelle had lnGwn. Hut
any woman might run awny with 81 rleh
admirer. Harriet's admiration for the
cleverness with which Isabelle c"n'
Quoted this pretty playing with fire
disappeared, and in its place c;,ne Ihe
sharp conviction that md-fashinned
women like Linda had some iustitc;'-
tion. after all; 1t was dangerous" II
did lead TO sin." II could indeed hap
peD Donce too often"
Harriet felt her own Iapslne moral-
lty regnining its siupdarT. Just now,
when Nina most needed her mother,
when Richard was struggling with dif-
ficuit business conditions. when Ward
was engaged
She interrupted her thoughts here.
and tried TO maze herself feel like 4
woman engaged to be married. Some
how the fact persisted in baffling her.
There was an unreality about Il that
prevented her from tasting the full
sweet. Engaged-to rich man. and y
rich mans son. Well, perhaps when
Ward came back, II would sc I'm rsnre
believable.
She had been standing at one OF the
hail windows, window deep set In
the brick wall, and commanding
through elms and beeches the path to
the tennis court. Hands pressed her
eyes tight, she came back to the pres.
ent moment with a start. Ward Car
ter was behind her. He laughed at her
confusion, and they sat down on the
window seat together. Yes. he was
| going back to the Bellamys'. and 50
was BlondIn. but they had both come
in Just for lunch and the drive.
Instantly he brought reinsurance &c
her. Ward was such dear! o.
course she loved him.
"But you weren't a very good boy
last night - she snid. Their hands wers
locked: but she had shaken negative
when he would have kissed her.
"RottenT he confessed. easily. -
played poker, too. 10 man ought {,
do that when he's edged. Sorry-sor
i ry--sorry. Listen. When we're mar
ried It's all OF. No smoking. drinking
gambling. wine. women, or song
whatT"
"You may not know It, but you nevel
spoke a truer wordi" the girl said. Hi
shout OF laughter was pleasant TO hear
Listen. Docs Mother know u
About Us. meanT'
''Oh, ward--nobody knows It
Hushl" His mention OF his mothe
brought back realization with q rush
and she added uncomfortably. "She'
at Great harrington"
"Oh, darni wanted to see her
She wrote me, and told me she love
me, and that she didn't think she ha
: been a very good mother to mel" II
i laughed, youthfully. with a bewlldere
: widening OF his eyes. Il thought sh
was sick. Well. maybe we can sto
J there going back"
"where did you leave Mr.. BloE
} dInT'
"He beat It down to the tennI
court. Say. listen, Is there chanc
that he's stuck on Nlna7 II looks {
! me like what the watch comes inI
, Harriet glanced at her wrist befoI
! she answered him. Her heart Wa
sick within her. Close upon her rad
. ant dream had come this shadow, d
: more shadow now, when her respol
J. sIbllIty had Infinitely increased. an
! When ahe had bad proof Of the iol