The Jasper news., 1922-03-23


for dnyel with Nina, Harriet purs
sued, ihouehtfully. 1T INIT 80 much
That one can't md good excuse. as
thar she won't hear Of excuses at MI !
1 remember when Mrs. Carter first
went away. there we're days OF IT.
weeks OF Il just talk. fenrs, and talk
4-tny nrin used to acbe from the weight
Of Nlna's erml Mr.. Carter Intends 70
leave f0r Chicago tomorrow, Ward
WIN probably 60 up to the Enfona'A-
Harriet rnmbied on. not unconscious
that she wns making an impression.
Anyway she finlshe0. Eve shall he
fearfuily quiet und alone here, and
your being here would simply save the
day for Nina r.
"Oh. really couldn't stay over New
Years. Mrs. Tabor, looking slightly
dilicomfted, said slowly. You see, the
Fordyces--n She looked undecided.
and bit her under.iin.
One wonders r. she said, musing-
". "0f course. ! shouldn't went to In
trnde tonight--it would be merely to
have them feel that ] was here--''
mir. Carter has asked me to see that
the family Is alone tonight" Harriet
said. courngeously, hut Of course he
may feel thnt you are an exception
she added, with the ImpersonaI nlr OF
a mere employee. y only want to be
able to Tell him that repeated his
request, and told you tile reason for II.
1rhat'sr--aRd she smiled pleasantiy--
THAT Is as far as my authority goes,
OF course. shalt say simply that you
know OF his wishes. and II you remain,
| know ] can say that II was TO please
Nina l"
And now the two women exchanged
an open glance that needed no pretenso
and no concealment. and II was n
gianee OF enmitS
''lvlen visit this house Il Is not az
your Invitation, Miss Tieldr' said Mrs.
Tabor. frankly.
Il am aware Of that Harriet said,
simply.
"will you be so kind as to tell Nina
and Madame Carter" the visitor was
resEming her wraps. and arranging her
handsome hat and veil, "that will be
here tomorrow, and thnt anything ! can
do viii be so glad TO dolls that
Mrs Warren's car, Bottonley7 Thank
you. Good afternoon. Miss Fieldi'
Good afternoon, Mrs. Tabori" Har.
rlet followed her TO tile hall door, and
heard Parthian shot. addressed IN
cleerfnlly high voice to kindly old
Mrs. Warren, Mrs. Fordyce's mother.
who was IN the limousine:
Nobody home! All my trouble for
nothingw
Old Mrs. Warren leaned against the
frosted glass; waved from the holly
dressed Interior nj Harriet. and the
girl saw her lips frame sMerry Christ
mas !" The door slammed; Bottomiey
came With stately footsteps up TO tho
llali again. Harriet gave little laugh
of triumph Now the coast was clcari
Thus II 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.
but then Miss Field was member OF
the family. He Interrogated her briefly
as they went In.
"ward's gsng7 That Eaton ASST"
"oh. they went yesterday" !"
Speak to Bottomleyf"
"Yes He and Pilgrim are quite rec
onclled to remaining" Harriet but
toned cuft. to hide a dImpie that
would come 70 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 TIP 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, knew OF course, that
you would manage II he said. con
tentedIy. 1T seems black art 10 me.
l had enough Of itl'
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 wns quite nlone when be
broke the news 10 them.