The Holbrook news., 1922-03-03

"No Reason to Disbelieve My Son!'
 His Mother Echoed, Scandalized. slowly in q basket chair The old lady | freed an eyeglass ribbon deliberately straightened a ruffie. laid Ter mags zine beside her on q table. ''Ther' was a little matter of which I wished to speak to you" she said, Suavely, bringing her distant glance to rest ais passiY.,ately for d mOrneni upon liar riet'S face.
 Harriet waited, amused, annoyed, impatient.
 q understand" Madame Carter said, that you and my son-for some I reason best known to yourselves have entered into a secret marriage?'
 Your first object, my dear, is not to l antagonize his motherl" Harriet re- minded herself. Aloud she said mild ly: You have no reason to disbe- lieve it, have you?"
 'No reason to disbelieve my son " his mother echoed. scandalized. "Why should I have, Mir. Carter is the soul of absolutely the soul. Upon my word. I don't understand your
 "I said you have no reason to disbe- lieve him." Harriet repeated. You said that you understood that we had been married. It is true.' And she looked off toward the river with an expression as composed as that of Madame Carter herself.
 "I suppose you know that old say ing: "A secret bride has a secret to hide 2" the old woman pursued, pleas antly.
 "I never heard it. l did not play much with the children of the neigh borhood when I was child" Harriet answered. My father was very anx- ious to protect us from picking up ex- pressions of that sortr'
 There was a silence. Harriet, be- ginning to be ashamed of herself, did not look at her companion.
 "A girl of your age has great deal of confidence when she marries into a family like mine." the old lady said, presently, in a tone that trembled a little "AIy son is rich man-he is prominent man. He has used his own judgment. of course. But I con fess that in your place I should not carry myself with quite so much an air of triumph! It seems to me"
 Harriet determinedly regained her calm. and taking the chair next to the enraged old lady, quietly interrupted the flow of her angry words.
 "I hope I have shown no air of triumph. Madame Carter" Harriet said You yourself-and most wisely pointed out to us few months ago that the arrangement here was un- conventional"
 "Every one was talking, if you mind that :" the old lady snapped. But she was slightly modified, nOne-the-less. But upon my word, you'd think mar rying into the family was something to be done every day-!' she was be- ginning again, when Harriet inter- rupted again.
 "NO-no," she said, soothingly. con- ceding the last words an amused smile that itself rather helped to pla- cate her companion. "It is, of course, the most serious step of my life, But the secrecy-as of course you will ap- preciate-was because there has been so much terrible notOriety this year Why. Mir. Carter tells me that never in the history of all the Carters-"
 This fortunate lead was enough. Madame Carter launched forth superb ly upon a description of the usual Car ter weddings. the ceremony. the state. In perhaps twenty minutes she was blandly pafroniZing Harriet, giving her encouraging little taps with her eyeglasses, warning her of mistakes that Isabelle had made with Richard. Harriet knew that before three days were over her terrible mOther-in-law would be telling the world just low wise, under the trying circumstances, the whole thing was, and just how clearly she had foreseen it. She was still listening respectfully, if q trifie confuscdly, when Ward bounded from the house, and gave her an effuaive embrace.
 Hello. Mamma " Ward said liar riet laughed. as she pushed away the filial arm. Hardly knowing what she said or did she made her way to the house. and up to her own room.
 But here, in Nina's room, were Nina and Mrs. Tabor, and from their eyes, as she came in, she knew that they knew. Nina got up, and came for ward with q sort of sulky gracious ness.
 'I hope you'll be very happy, Miss Harriet-I suppose I oughtn't to call you Miss Harriet any more," Nina said, with an effort to smile that Har- riet thought quite ghastly She gave Harriet one of her big hands, and hesi- tated over a kiss. But they did not kiss each other.
 At luncheon everything was exactly as usual; Richard had gone to the city, not to return for q night or two, and several social engagements dis tracted the young people from the con temptation of their fathers affairs.
 Harriet had not dared to hope that they would accept the situation so quietly, or that the world would. There were callers on the terrace