The Elk Mountain pilot., 1922-04-06

got poor Francesca-she's locked u
in your roomi They climbed IN on
porch. after they swore to Iiarr'r
that they wouldn't mike arotller
sound"
Harriet now appeared in The hall
way. her hair falling in braid over
her shoulder. and the long lires of Tho
black Ivbe she wore giving Ter figure
an unusual effect Of height SIC did
not see Richard Immediately. for she
had eyes only for Ward. as she caught
his shoulder and took away the ST.
phnn
Now. Ward-look here" she said
sternly. "What sort of honor do Won
call this Half an hour ngo thought
all this nonsense was stopped. shame
on YOU, Those girls prnm'se' me"
She saw Richard and laughed the
color flooding her face.
'Ai,nt they simply shameIess!" she
said. Il had them all settled down.
once! Nina. where's Francesca? You
see," Harriet said. II rapid explana-
tion 10 richard. ~ gave the girls my
room tonight SO that they could all
The girls entirely unalarmed by
her severity. had deserted Richard
now. and were clinging to her with
weak laughter and feeble explana-
tions.
francesca unlocked that door, and
rushed into Mr.. Carter's rooml' Amy
explained. wiping her eyes. "And
then the boys locked her in therei"
The composed temperance of Fran
cesca at this point, however, added to
the general hilarity.
"You did not lock me in. Smartles !"
Francesca drawled. childishly "They
climbed to the balcony. and we were
well, we were undressing" she said
to Richard. "and here they We're ham,
mering and yelling like-like ST.
washesl We grabbed our wrappers,
we wanted to"
ave wanted to lock them out
there" Amy explained, laughing un-
controllably. But"
"And I snapped off the light"
Nina lnterposed, with deep satlsfac-
ton
"And, mind you"
"And, Father"
"And the wonder was that we didn't
die of fright"
"Now, look here" Harriet said. in
the babel, "I'l give you all exactly two
minutes to quiet down. Never In the
course of my life"
Richard thought her maternal indul
gence delightful; he thought the
young people who clung about her
charming in their apologetic and
laughing promises. Ward and Bruce
Hopper mounted to their own region
Richard went with the girls and Har
riet to the rooms that had been at
! tackled. Pilgrim. the tireless, was al
ready there, replacing pillows, straight
ening beds, untwisting curtains. The
girls, with reminiscent bubbles oi
laughter. began to help her.
After the last good-nights. Richard
and Harriet had no choice but to cross
the hall again. and they stood there
for a moment. laughing at the recent
excitement.
"After twelve" Harriet said. with
a smiling shake of her head. aren't
they young demonsI However" she
added In an undertone, "it's the best
thing in the world for Ninal This
sort of nonsense will blow cobwebs
awayw
Richard was only conscious of a
desire to prolong this intimate little
moment OF parental consultation.
"She doesn't speak of BlondIn?" he
asked.
mot at all. The birthday came and
went placidly enough" Harriet an
swered suddenly intent after her
laughing. And as he did not speak for
a second, she looked up at him, inno-
Gently. "You don't think she's hiding
anything?' she asked, anxiously.
"I-no. l hardly think So" Richard
answered. confusedly. Their eyes met.
and he smiled vaguely. Then Harriet
slowly crossed the hall to the door Of
the guest room, where she was spend
Ing the night. and gave him an only
half-audible goodnight. Richard stood
watching the door for a moment or two
after 1t had closed upon the slender.
dimly seen figure. Then he went to
his own room, and began briskly
enough to move about between the mir
rOrs and dressing room, windows and
bed. But two or three times he
stopped short, and found himself
staring vacantly into space, all move
ment arrested, even thought arrested
for whole long minutes at time.
Harriet. entering her room, closed
the door noiselessly, and remained for
a long time standing with her hands
resting against it behind her. her eyes
alert, her breath coming as If she had
been running. There was only night
light in the bedroom the covers were
still tumbled back from her sudden
flight toward the rioting youngsters In
the hall. She got back into her bed
and opened her book. But for u long
| time She neifhar slant nor rand. hnr