The Holbrook news., 1922-02-17

the room and the house very still. '1t isn't exactly what I expected marriage to be-" she unused. "But after all," she said to herself beginning to move about with last preparations for bed," I'm married to the man I love-noth- ing can change that. And if he doesn't love me. he likes me. I've done nOth- ing wrong, and if my life Is just lit tie different from most women's, why, I shall have to make the best of it And did tell him-I did tell him"
 And her thoughts went back to the first few minutes she had spent in Richards office that day. They had been alone, discussing the last details of their astonishing plan. when she had suddenly taken the plunge.
 "Mr. Carter, there is just one thing Of course" Harriet's cheeks had famed, "of course, this marriage Of ours is not the usual marriage, and yet, there is just one thing of which l would like to speak to you before we we go up to Greenwich" And find ing his gray eyes pleasantly fixed upon her she had gone on, confused but de termined: 'T'm twenty-seven now and perhaps I might have married some other man before this-eXcept that-when I was seventeenth did fall in love with man! And we were to be married-!" She had stopped short; 1t was incredibly hard. He had-or I thought he had, brought something tremendously big and won- derful into my life," Harriet had con- tinued, "and was stupid little girl. just taking care of my sisters babies and reading my fathers books"
 You are under no obligation to tell me anything of this," Richard had said, kindly, far more concerned for her distress than interested in what she was saying. T must have known that there were admirers! I assure you that"
 "No, but just a moment!" Harriet had interrupted him. "I was infatu ated-I knew that at once. God knows I've known it ever since! went away with him, little fool that I was!"
 A gleam of genuine surprise had come into Richard Carter's eyes, and he looked at her without speaking.
 "I was taken i'll the day l left with him. While I was getting well I had time to think it over. l knew then was too young and too ignorant to be any mans wife. was frightened and I-well, I ran away; went back to regarded me after that as in some way marked, unprincipled, unworthy"
 Poor child! Richard had said ''They naturally would. You were no more than Nina's age"
 "So that's my history" Harriet had finished, simply. q thought I had done with men. And there have been men, men like Ward, for instance, to whom could have been married with out feeling that I need make any men, tion of that old time. But l wanted to tell yOu.'
 ''Thank you very much," Richard had said, gravely. "If the protection of my name and my house seems wei come to you, after some battling with the world, it will be an additional sat isfaction to me-"
 And then before another word was spoken Fox had come in, announcing the car, and they had begun the long, strange drive.
 She got into the luxurious bed, put out the bedside light, and lay with her hands clasped behind her head thinking The clock struck one; snow was still falling steadily outside, but in here the last pink glow of firelight f1ickered and sank-fiickered and sank lazily.
 Some sudden thought made Harriet smile ruefully. She indicated that it was unwelcome by turning over to bury her bright head in the pillow and resolutely composing herself for sleep.