The Jasper news., 1922-04-27


in his ONCE, and Smiled to himself dur
ing important business conferences,
wondering about II. 1t seemed incred-
ible TO him, now, that his experiences
of the past year had been so largely
concerned with Harriet. His wifes
companion, his daughters governess,
his own capable and dlgnified house
keeper, the woman he had 80 hastily
married, all seemed different person,
quite visionary person, with whom
Just such busIDess-like arrangements
had been possible.
But Harriet was beginning to seem
to him a stranger who possessed at
once the most mysterious and child
like, the most beautiful and the most
baffling personality that he had ever
known. He made excuses to go home
early, just to catch gllmpses of this
wife who was not his wife. That he
had ever taken a fntherly, advisory
tone with this woman was unbelIev-
able; her mere approach made him
catch his breath and lose his coheren-
cy. He had walked into her room-he
had patronized her-he had asked her
casually to marry him as IL she had
been fifty, and as plain as she was
lovelyl
Richard shuddered as he thought OF
II. He made constant efforts to en-
gage her in personalities, but she evad-
ed him. There was real thrill for
him In the quiet dinner at the Hoyts'.
Mrs. Carter, said slow old bewhiskered
John Hoyt, was an extremely pretty
woman. "My wife"-Richard In answer.
Ing called her that-"looks particularly
we'll In an evening gown" Indeed she
looked exquisite in the blue and silver
dress, laughing-stlll with that ador-
able mist Of strangeness and shyness
about her-with her neighbors at the
table, and afterward in the drawing
room, waving her silver fan slowly
while Freda Hoyt, who quite obviously
adored her, whispered her long conf
dences.
Coming home in the Limousine they
had neighbors with them, old Doctor
and Mrs. Carmichael, so he might not
have the word alone with her for which
he had been longing all evening. But
he stopped her In the wide. dim hall
way when they reached Crownlands.
"Tired?" he said, al the foot Of the
stairs.
"NOt bit !" There was an enchant-
Ing vitality about her. She had
slipped the thin wrap from her shoul-
ders, and she turned to him her lovely,
happy face. did you want mel"
81 wanted to say something to YOU"
Richard said, feeling awkward as 9
boy.
"1n thereY's sIiS nodded, suddenly
alert, toward the library.
"Why in thereT he asked, with
little husky laugh. His one impulse
was to put his arms about her.
Il thought-bills perhapsf" Harriet
said, innocently. 1t was the third day
of the month; he had often consulted
her as TO expenses before this.
"No," Richard said, with another un-
steady little laugh. "It wasn't bills. I
was just wondering-if had been
very stupid" he said, taking one Of her
hands, and looking up from the fin-
gers that lay In his to the face that
now wore an expression a little
frightened. despite the smile.
"Never with me !" Harriet said, In a
low tone.
"Never so blind" Richard said,
never so matter-of-fact that l hurt
your feelings? Nothing of-that sort?"
always the kindest friend ever
hadl" the girl answered, unsteadIly,
and with suddenly wet eyes. THE
the most generous
He looked at her hand again. looked
up at her as II he would speak. But
instead, she felt her fingers pressed,
and felt her heart thump with a dell
clous terror.
BOttomley came nolselessly, dis
| creetly, across the hall. Instantly the
woman In blue and silver was all the
mistress.
'Is Mr.. Ward In, Bottomley7"
"He dined at 'ome, Mrs. Carter"
"oh, thank you'll You may lock up,
then. Goodnight. Mr.. CarterI Good
night, Bottomleyp
She was gone. The blue-and-silver
gown and the punched folds of the
furred coat vanished on the stairway
landing. The tall clock that she
passed struck eleven. And Richard,
going into his library, realized that he
was deeply and passionately In love.
He could think Of nothing else-he did
not wish to think Of anything else.
Her face came between him and his
book, her voice loitered In his ears,
her precise, pretty phrasIng, the
laughter that sometimes lurked be-