Vernon Parish Democrat., 1922-05-25

ZONE In. Is 1t you, Pilgrim2" the
pleasant, quiet voice said. Richard
stepped to the doorway.
Harriet, seated in a square basket
chair, under the soft flood of light
from basket-shaded lamp, rose pre-
cipitately, and stood looking at him
with widened eyes and parted lips,
without speaking. She was plainly
frightened, though she made herself
smile. The beautiful room was full of
shadows; at the wide-open windows
thin curtains stirred in the cool night
air.
brighten you?" Richard said.
us there something's" Her eyes
were those Of a deer that is afraid to
turn.
"Why, 1 wanted to suggest that we
tell our little piece of news to the
family" Richard suggested, after a
momentary search for a suitable sub
ject. II came very close to telling my
mother just now. Is there any good
reason for further delayT"
"Why, no, don't-I don't suppose
there isl" Harriet stammered. "There
will be talk"
II suppose sO,%(he answered, simply.
''But what we do is our own affair,
after all. shall explain to my moth
er that for US both it seemed a prac-
tical and a-well, not unpleasant So
luton. There need be no change here,
but you will simply have a more as
sured position"
She had been watching him, with
all June in her face. But as he went
on the color slowly drained away, and
about her beautiful eyes a look Of
strain and even Of something like
shame gradually deepened. When she
spoke, 1t was as If the muscles Of her
throat were CONSTRUCTED.
Eyes, see. Certainly, I see. We
will have to let them talk. This is
simply the best arrangement possible
under the circumstances r'
"It is an arrangement that a man
perhaps has no right to ask Of wom-
an" Richard said. 'Love means a
great deal in a girls life, and 1 sup
pose there is nothing else that makes
up for the lack Of 1t. But you are
not an ordinary woman, and I assure
you that in every way that 1 can I
mean to prove to you how deeply
appreciate what you are doing for us
ALL"
"Thank your Harriet said, almost
inaudibly.
simply change your name on your
cheeks" Richard said, thOughtfully.
'T shall have Fox step into the bank
with the authenticated signature. And
If there is anything else, use your own
judgment. Perhaps, If 1 tell my moth
er, you would like to write to certain
friends? You can continue to draw
on the Corn Exchange, that's simplest,
and I hope you'll remember that you
have large personal credit there" he
added, with a smile. 'It occurred to
me tonight that you-you mustn't let
your sister worry about that new
house. If you want your own car"
"Oh, good heavens, Mr.. Carter" |"
Harriet said, suffOcating.
"Ask me anything that puzzles you,"
the man said. And with a brief good
night he was gone Harriet, who had
dropped back into her chair, sat abso-
lutely motionless for long, long time.
Her eyes were fixed on space; she
hardly breathed; it almost seemed as
If her heart was stopped.
Richard went downstairs, surprised
to feel still vaguely unsatisfied. He
had had his word with Harriet, had
said indeed much that he had not ex-
pected to say. However, it was much
better to let the world know their re-
latiOnship; he was perfectly satisfied
to have 1t so. But still, as he settled
himself to an hours reading, the
plaguing little impulse persisted. He
would like to go upstairs again; he
missed her companiOnship.
There was something very appeal
ing about this woman, thought Rich
ard, suddenly closing his book. Her
beauty, her silences, her complete sub
jugation of her own interests to his,
he found strangely fascinating.
'By George, she has made a most
interesting woman Of herselfr Rich
ard decided, opening his book again.
"She ought to be right in the middle
of things, that grill"
A day or two later Madame Carter
came out to the terrace at eleven
O'Clock, beautifully groomed and
gowned, and with an imperative hand
arrested Harriet, who was tumbled |
and sunburned from the tennis court
and was going toward the house.
"Just a moment, Miss Field" said |
she, magnificently. Harriet obedient- |
ly stood still, and watched Madame
Carter's magnificence settle itself
slowly in a basket chair. The old lady |
freed an eyeglass ribbon deliberately,
Strengthened a rufie, laid her maga-
zine beside her on a table. "There |
was little matter of which I wished
to speak to yOu," she said, suavely. |