Mexico weekly ledger., 1922-01-19

them a passing glance. aud wondered
Q little In her heart. The boy vas
handsome, and fascinating, and rich,
but it was just a little unusual to have
Isabelle so openly interested In any
one.
Underlined and vague, this was stin
somewhere in the background Of her
thoughts as she returned to Crown
lands, and when she met Ward Car
ter, wrestling with the engine Of his
own rather disreputable racing car.
out In one Of the clean, graveled
spaces near the garage.
Harriet felt a little Q~uickening Of
her pulses as she saw him. There was
no mistaking the pleasure In his eyes
as she came close.
spark plugsr she asked. with the
sympathy of one to whom the peculi-
arities Of the car were familiar.
she's fixed now; I've Just cleaned
EN-" Ward announced, flinging away
his cigarette and Strengthening his
back. "Shem 90 like a bird, now. Say.
get In and try her, win your he asked.
eagerly. Come on-come on. be a
sport" But perhaps he was. a. much
surprised as delighted when she very
simply stepped into the low front seat.
He gave her more than one sidewise
glance a. they went dipping smoothly
up and down the green lanes, and said
to himself, "Gosh-when she crinkles
those blue eyes Of hers, and her mouth
sort Of witches % II she wanted to
laugh. she Ii q beauty-that's what she
isi"
About q week later they met for q
few moments In this very side garden.
Il was early evening. and twilight ana
moonlight were mingled over the silent
roses, and the trimmed turf. and the
low brick walls.
They came straight toward each
other. and stood very close together.
and he took both Of Harriet's hands.
snow, what is it--what Ia it7" the
man said, quickly. tive been waiting
long enough. 7 can't stand 1t any
longeri l can't 60 away tomorrow,
perhaps for two weeks, and not
know !"
ward" the girl faltered, lifting an
exquisite face that wore, even In the
faint moonshine, q troubled and In
tense expression, cant we let 1t all
walt until you get backf"
why, Harriet" and his arm went
about her shoulders. and he bent his
face over hers, Harriet, why not let
me 20 happyT he pleaded.
"You'Il e a dozen younger girls at
the Bellamys' camp" Harriet rec
soned, girls with whom II. would be
infinitely more suitable"
please" he interrupted, patiently.
And almost touching her warm, smooth
cheek with his own, and coming so
close that to raise her beautiful eyes
was to find his only a few inches away,
he added. fWyently, "You love me and
! love you--isn't that all that mat
ters?"
Did she love him? Harriet hoped.
when she reviewed 1t all In the rest
less, tossing hours OF the night. that she
had thought, In that moment, that she
did. It was. wonderful to feel that
strong, eager arm about her, there was
q sweet and heady intoxication in his
passion, even II It did not awaken an
answering passion In return. Under
all her reasoning and confederation
ing in the night there crept the knowi-
edge that she had known that this was
coming, had known that only 4 few
days of encouraging friendliness, only
q few appealing glances from uplifted
blue eyes, and q few casual touches Of
a smooth brown hand must bring this
hour upon her. And back of. this hour,
and Of a mans joy In winning the
woman he loved, she had seen the hazy
future Of prosperity and beauty and
ease, the gowns and cars and homes,
the position Of young Mrs. Ward Car
ter.
She had let him turn her face up, in
the Strengthening moonlight. and kiss
her hungrily upon the lips, and she
had sent him In to his dinner half-wild
with the Joy Of knowing himself be-
loved. Harriet had gone in, too, shaken
and half-frightened. and with his last
whispered prophecy ringing in her
ears: @s,
"Wait a year-rot! I'll 90 to the
Bellamys'. because I promised to. but
the day ! come back. and that's two
weeks from today. well tell everyone,
and this time next year you will have
been my wife for six monthsl"