The Elk Mountain pilot., 1922-02-23

~
'TNhsn Visit This House Il 10 Not
A. Your Invitation, Miss FIeid!" Said
Mrs. Tabor, Frankly.
Old Mrs. Warren leaned against the
frosted glass; waved from the holly
dressed interior at Harriet, and the
girl saw her lips frame Merry Chriss,
mas" The door slammed; Bott0mles
came with stately footsteps up to the
hall again. Harriet gave a little laugh
Of triumph. Now the coast was clear!
Thus 1t was that Richard Carter
found only his mother and his children
at the dinner table that night. and no
guests under his roof. Miss Field, to
be sure. was at the head of the table,
the family. He interrogated her briefly
as they went in.
Wards gang? That Eaton ASST"
"Oh, they went yesterday"
Speak to Bottomley3"
"Yes. He and Pilgrim are quite rec
onciled to remaining" Harriet but
toned cuff. to hide dimple that
would come to the corner of her
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 betterl"
"Scene with Nina about it?" Rich
ard had asked, curiously.
nina was not here" Harriet an
swered. And there was faint smile
in the deep blue eyes that she raised
suddenly to his.
| "Ah, well, l knew, of course, that
you would manage i'll" he said, con-
tentedly. 'It seems black art to me.
1 had enough of It'll"
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
been loyal to Isabelle. as one of the
Carriers. 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
certain unpleasant notoriety to her
children, yet her death struck both the
young creatures fOrcibly, and they felt
shocked and shaken.
I'VE can't be In the Fordyce tab
leaux." said Nina in an interval be-
tween floods of sobs. mot that
would want to, now! But / don't
know; 1t seems to me that 1 am the
most unfortunate girl in the worldl"
II 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 muir
uur to her consolingly.
"When my mother died" Madame
Carter quavered. with her handker-
chief pressed to the tip of her nose.
my sisters and l wore black, and re-
fused all social engagements for one
year. We then, l remember distinctly,
began to wear white and lavender"
Nina broke in pettishly: ~ don't see
why / have to wear black !"
."Why should you?" Ward said with
bitter scorn Its only your motherr
Nina began to cry.
"You and I Will go down to Land
nann's early tomorrow, Nina" Har-
-iet suggested. land well have some
one show us what Is simple and nice
not Grape. you know" Harriet said,
With a glance at Richard Carter, but
black for few months, anyway"
~ think that would be the least,
Richard' his mother approved. II be-
ueve / will go with you," she conde-
scended TO Harriet, after all, isabelle
vas my daughter-in-law, and the
mother of my grandchildren
"And won't go to California or Ber-
muda or anywhere else unless Lady
bird comes ~ Nina burst out, with a
broken sob.
Nonsense :" her father began harsh
". Harriet said:
Bermuda? Is there plan for Ber-
muda?"
"I suggested 1t for n few weeks"
Richard said, frowning, but I don't
propose to have Nina invite group of
friends That isn't exactly the idea"
1--WE could ask Mrs. Tabor" Harriet
said, soothingly at is right in the
middle of the season. and perhaps she
will feel she can hardly spare the time.
But I'm sure that II she can"
"If 1 ask her. she'll CO." Nina said,
In sulky, confident undertone.
Harriet had her doubts, but she did
not express them. A month at Mas