The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1922-03-30

10 me. I've been thinking OF you all
night"
~rve been thinking, too" she said.
simply.
ITS sitter six" Blondin said with
= glance about I'VE can't talk here. |
Can you get away? Can we go some
whereT'
without another word she deserted |
her seat. pinned on her hat, and |
picked up her gloves.
There's Il very quiet back road
straight down to Crownlands." she
said considering. 1--WE might walk"
Anything" he assented. briefly.
Guided by Harriet. who was familiar
with the place. they slipped through
the hallway. and out a side door. They
had no sooner gained silence and soli-
tude than the man began deliberately:
Harriet, have not thought Of any
thing else since came upon you yes
terday, after all these years. / want
you 10 tell me that you-you aren't
angry with me. You knew-you knew
how desperately I tried TO find you,
Harriet? What hell went through"
IL she had steeled herself against
the possibility Of his shaking her she
failed herself now. 1t was with an
Involuntary and bitter little laugh that
she said:
"You had no monopoly OF that.
Roy"
"But you ran away from mer' he
accused her When / went to ind
you. they told me the Davenports had
moved away. Won't you believe that
/ felt terrible-thst / walked the
streets, Harriet. praying-praying,-
that ] might catch glimpse Of you.
II was the uppermost thought for
years-how many years7 Severn"
More than eight" she corrected.
In a somewhat lifeless voice. II was
eighteen. My one thought. my one
hope. when l last saw you. in Linda's
house." she went on, with sudden pas
sion, twas that / would never see you
again But I'm glad 10 hear you say
this, Roy" she added, In gentler
tone. I'm glad you-felt sorry. Our
going away was a mere chance. Fred
Davenport was offered a position on
a Brooklyn paper, and we all moved
grateful for IL; / only wanted TO dis
appear. Linda stood by me. her chill
dren saved my life. / was a nursery
maid for a year or twO-I never saw
anybody or went anywhere l look
back" Harriet said. talking more to
herself than to him. and walking
swiftly along In the golden sunset that
streamed across the old back road.
"and 1 wonder 1 didn't go stark. star
| ing mad.
Don't think about It," he. urged.
with concern.
mo; I'll not think about It Royal,
don't think that all my feeling was for
myself. 1 thought of you. too. 1
missed you. Truly. missed what you
had given my nfe"
A dark flush came to the mans face.
and when he spoke IL was with an
| honest shame and gratitude In his
| voice that would have surprised the
women who had only known him In
| his later years.
You are generous. Harriet" he
said. You were always the most
generous girl I'm the world!"
More stirred than she wished TO
show herself. Harriet walked on, and
there was a silence.
LINDA and Fred made II hard for
your he asked.
"Oh. MOI They were angels. But Of
course in their eyes. and mine. too
/ was marked"
silence. Royal Blondin gave her a
glance full OF distress and compunc-
ton. But he did not speak. and IL
was Harriet who ended the pause.
well. that's what little girl Of
eighteen may do with her life.' she
said. 81 have been fool have
made a wreck Of miner"
"You are the most beautiful woman
in the world" Royal Blondin said.
steadily. "you are established here.
they ell adore YOU, Why do You say
that your life Is n wreck
IT am the daughter OF Professor
F1.Id.v said Harriet, "and at twenty
seven | am the paid companion Of
Mrs. Richard Carriers daughter. Oh.
WE'LL was happy enough To have the
opportunity. What of yourself? Where
have you been?"
But ne was not quite ready to drop
the personal note.
"Harriet. now that we have met.
veil be friends? My life now 10 among
these people; you'll not be sorry II we
occasionally meetf"
In this casual way-nO. we can
stand that she agreed. The fears
of the night rose Ike mist. melted
away. II was bad enough. but IL was
NOT what her infiamed and fantastic
anprehension had made IL. He was
revengerul villain. after ALL He
d,a not mean 10 harm her.
arve been everywhere" he said. an
.vering her question. 81 made two
trims TO China from San Francisco. !
,ras Interested In Chinese antiques
1yten I went into Persian rug thing.
,,-it,, n dealer. We handled rugs: I
went all over the Onion. After mat.
four years ago. | went TO Persia and