The Jasper news., 1922-02-23


four. Three hours sleep Nns not tobe
desplf I'd. ns Harriet was IN no mood
FOR Il. Insiend she took q bath, and
Just as the dawn wns beginning 10 Mood
The world With niyeiefIoue hntf.llshts
und long wet shadows. she eeep1 out
into the dewaroneiied garden and with
triumphant sense Of beiItE alone,
went Into the ewqod. Early walks
were ono Of her delights Il wns a.
most anvcn O'Clock when abe cnrne
back, glowing. beginning 10 feel warm
lnnd hendacliy. beginning 70 realize
thar the July dns would be hot. be-
ginning TO be conscious of the eight
mile tramp IN the garden ut Grown
lands sbe met IioyHl, leaving the
house.
He studied her npprovingly.
Harriet do sou know Tint You are
extraordinarily ensy TO leok uponf
What gets you up so eRfty7'
Two been walking she said briefly
ana unrespohsIvely His social Lleas-
antrIes Instantly ailtaEonlsed her and
he saw It.
well thought perhaps had bet
ter get out. I'm at the club for day
or two Ward tells me-" he added CIV
ing the girl 4 sharp glance, that yan'
4 aud he--ehT
Harriet flushed
I'm sorry he told your
''oh, my dear chIIdl' BIondln made
a deprecaiory motion OF his hands.
"of course, think you're very wise"
lie added
This smote upon her newborn self
respect, md ali the glory departed
from the doy. The man saw her breast
rise and fall with some quick emotion
as be half-smIlingly watched her.
"Thc lad gets q beautiful and wise
and very discreet Wife, he was begin
ming, but Hnrrlet silcnced him angrily.
HE loves me. don't know what
boys love Is worth; he's only TWEEN
! ty-two. after Gil. But he does love
me But believe me, Royal. you
couldn't hurt fne--as you are hurting
me!--lf there was no truth In what
you say. Ward Inns had three years
al coilege--Tve not been member of
tile family all TINT time without know
ing that he is not saint He lhns
lived us other men do--as women per-
init ,lecent men ito live, suppose.
MINIS different. She's younger. She
has never had mn affair"
we were not discussing Nlnai"
i no, know H. Rat you reminded
me that what objectto IN you. with
her, myself aim doing with hini--or
something very like I'll Except
tint--" Harriet noundered little,
but regajned her thread--''excepi that
lie does care for me-" she repeated I;
''ho loves beainy--f can say That to
yolr without your misunderstanding =
and then. he knows me, we have been
intimate for years. we are congenial r
"IIe knows everything about you,'
Royal repeated, lnnocently. as u the
ceptuble. But again she was stung &c
silence,
II am going to tell him frankly. ex
actIy what you have said to me-" Har
riet said, presently, with decision ant
relief IN her voice. IT shnll remind
him that have always been poor. anf
that II is utterly impossible for me Il
! separate the thought OF him from tb'
thought OF what my life as his Wifi
would gain"
"Be careful how you play your han'
alone I" the man said. Half coma
dence Isn't much more Than none a
: ALI"
II A moment later they parted: thu
! woman entering the house for a cul
. OF coffee. md some conference witt
+" butler and housekeeper, and the mai
starting of brIskly for his early walk
d But Blondin was smiling. as he wen
D upon his way. and Harriet was whit
l. with anger and impotence.
e sIll put everything else / have 4
u this world In the balance, Roy !" sh
I, said to herself, In the sunshIny sllenc
OF the breakfast room. But I'll hol
" no more stolen conversations wit
s youi III break my engagement wit
70 Ward, I'll go to Richard Carter an
& humIIIate myself. III 20 back to LII
r da's house without a penny in I'll
e world--but I'll be done with you
M Thank God, however the story ma
,e sound, especially with your interpr'
A. tatIons on IL. you haven't my homo
Fs In your keeping. though you may scel
In to hayel r.
pt The house wns absolutely quiet
the clock on the stairs struck a silver
3 seven. Harriet went noIselessly TO be
q own room; Nina was sleeping hea-,iI
"a She flung on her clothes. sank INF
81 bed. And DOW at Inst sleep cam
u deem. delicious, satisfying.