The Holbrook news., 1922-02-24

NOihC lO tlS SOlhCl OA hCi mouth. And Mrs. Tabor came. and would have stayed" she could not re- sist the temptation to add, but per suaded her that some other time would be better!"
 "Scene with Nina about it?" Rich ard had asked, curiously.
 Nina was not here" Harriet an- swered. And there was a faint smile in the deep blue eyes that she raised suddenly to his.
 "Ah, well, knew, of course, that you would manage it!" he said, con- tentedly. Tt seems black art to me. l had enough of It."
 She smiled again, and went quietly to her place. But when he summoned Ward and Nina to his mothers room, after dinner, she had disappeared, and the family was quite alone when he broke the news to them
 Harriet, presently needed again, was astonished at the emotion of the old lady, who had been genuinely fond of her daughter-in-law, and had always DCCH lO ISuDcllc, us Ouc Ol tilt Carters Madam Carter was greatly shaken, Nina hysterical, Ward ag- grieved, irritated at his own feeling He had not seen his mother for seven months. she had brought nothing but a certain unpleasant notoriety to her children, yet her death struck both the young creatures forcibly, and they felt shocked and shaken.
 we can't be in the Fordyce tab leaux," said Nina in an interval be tween floods of sObs. "Not that would want to, now! But I don't know; 1t seems to me that I am the most unfortunate girl in the world!''
 'I think both you and Ward should wear black for certain period" Rich ard said to her. He had been walking the floor nervously, stopping now and then beside the great chair where his mother sat silent and stricken, to put his arm about her shoulders and mur- mur to her cOnsOlingly.
 "When my mother died" Madame Carter quavered, with her handker
 
 "my sisters and I wore black, and re- fused all social engagements for one year. We then, remember distinctly, began to wear white and lavender"
 Nina broke in pettishly: q don't see why 1 have to wear black!"
 "Why should you?" Ward said with bitter scorn. Its only your mother!" Nina began to cry.
 You and I will go down to Land mann's early tomorrow, Nina," Har- riet suggested, "and we'll have some one show us what Is simple and nice not crape, you know," Harriet said, with a glance at Richard Carter, "but black, for few months. anyway"
 'I think that would be the least, Richard" his mother approved. ''I be- lieve I will go with you," she condo scended to Harriet, "after all, Isabelle was my daughter-in-law, and the mother of my grandchildren!
 And I won't go to California or Der muda or anywhere else unless Lady bird comes" Nina burst out, with broken sob.
 Nonsense !" her father began harsh ly. Harriet said:
 Bermuda? Is there a plan for Der muda?"
 q suggested 1t for a few weeks" Richard said, drowning, "but l don't propose to have Nina invite group of friends That isn't exactly the idea"
 we could ask Mrs Tabor" Harriet said, sOOthingly; ''it is right in the middle of the season, and perhaps she will feel she can hardly spare the time. But I'm sure that if she can"
 If I ask her, she'll go," Nina said, in a sulky, confident undertone.
 Harriet had her doubts, but she did not express them. A month at Mas sau, in the undiluted company of Nina and her grandmother, was enough to appall even Harriet's stout heart.
 The event proved her right, for while Ida Tabor flew at once to her discOn- solate little friend, and assured Rich- ard with tears in her eyes that she would do anything in the world to help him, she weakened when the actual test arrived.
 If just you and I and your dear grandmother were going, dearest girl" she said to Nina, "then 1t would be per feet. But as long as Miss Field, who is perfectly charming and cOnscien- tious and all that, feels that she must accompany us, why-you and I would never be moment alone, sweetheart, you know that I don't like to think that it's jealousy"
 Of course it's jealousy" Nina was pleased to decide, glOOmily. Granny says that We don't need her, but Fla ther just sticks to 1t that she must manage everything!"
 Ida Tabor smiled automatically. "I don't suppose your father sees any thing in Miss Field?" she submitted, lightly.
 "Oh, Heavens, no" Nina said, studying herself in a handglass. There was . rather steely look in the eyes of her friend Ladybird, but she did not see 1t. Her smile of pleasure gradual ly gave place to pOut. "rm going to ask Father If we need Miss Harrietl" she said.
 And that evening she did indeed at tack Richard on the subject, although not as decidedly as she had planned. He listened to her interestedly enough, with his evening paper held ready fos his next glance.
 Let you roam about the country with Mrs. Tabor" he said, as the girls