, 1922-07-12

Come in. Is 1t you, Pilgrim" the
pleasant, quiet voice said. Richard
stepped to the doorway.
Harriet, seated In a square basket
chair, under the soft flood of light
from a basket-shaded lamp. rose pre-
cipitately, and stood looking at him
with widened eyes and parted lips,
without speaking. She was plainly
frightened, though she made herself
smile. The beautiful room was full of
shadows; at the wide-open windows
thin curtains stirred In the cool night
air.
brighten your" Richard said.
rs there something" Her eyes
were those of a deer that Is afraid to
turn.
why I wanted to suggest that we
tell our little piece of news to the
family" Richard suggested, after a.
momentary search for a suitable sub
ject. II came very close to telling my
mother, just now. Is there any good
reason for further delay?"
why no. I don't-I don't suppose
there is" Harriet stammered. "There
will be talk"
81 suppose So" he answered, simply.
But what we do is our own affair,
after all. l shall explain to my moth
er that for us both 1t seemed a prac-
teal and a-well, not unpleasant So
luton. There need be no change here,
but you will simply have a more as
sured position"
She had been watching him. with
all June In her face. But ms he went
on the color slowly drained away, and
about her beautiful eyes a look of
shame gradually d%eepened. When she
spoke, 1t was as If the muscles of her
throat were CONSTRUCTED.
"Yes, 1 see. Certainly. 1 see. We
will have to let them talk. This Is
simply the best arrangement possible
under the circumstances"
st is an arrangement that a man
perhaps has no right to ask of a WON
an" Richard said. Love means IA
great deal in a girls life, and I sup
pose there is nothing else that makes
up for the lack of it. But you are
not an ordinary woman. and I assure
you that In every way hat l can I
mean to prove to you how deeply !
appreciate what you are doing for us
all"
''Thank you'll" Harriet said. almost
inaudibly.
simply change your name oil YOU
cheeks" Richard said. thoughtfully.
81 shall have Fox step into the bank
with the authenticated signature. And
If there is anything else, use your own
Judgment. Perhaps, If | tell my moth
er, you would like to write to certain
friends? You can continue to draw
on the Corn Exchange. that's simplest,
and l hope you'll remember that you
have a large personal credit there" he
added, with a smile. at occurred to
me tonight that you-you mustn't let
your sister worry about that new
house. If you want your own car"
"Oh, good heavens, Mr.. Carterr"
Harriet said, suffocating.
ASK me anything that puzzles you"
the man said. And with a brief good
night he was gone. Harriet, who had
dropped back into her chair, sat abso-
lutely motionless for n long, long time.
Her eyes were fixed on space; she
hardly breathed 1t almost seemed as
If her heart was stopped.
Richard went downstairs, surprised
to feel still vaguely dissatisfied. He
had had his word with Harriet. had
said indeed much that he had not ex-
pected to say. However, 1t was much
better to let the world know their re-
lationship; he was perfectly satisfied
t. have 1t so. But still, as he settled
himself to an hours reading, the
plaguing little impulse persisted. He
would like TO go upstairs again; he
missed her companionship.
There was something very appeal
ing about. this woman, thought Rich
ard. suddenly closing his book. Her
beauty, her %sllences, her complete sub
jugation of her W interests to his,
he found strangely fascinating.
"By George, she has made a most
interesting woman of herselfl" Rich
ard decided, opening his book again.
."She ought to be right in the middle
'of things, that girl~
A day or two later Madame Carter
came out to the terrace at eleven
o'clock, beautifully groomed and
gowaed. and with an Imperative hand
arrested Harriet. who was tumbled
and %sunburned from the tennis court
and was going toward the house.
Just a moment, Miss Field" said
she. magnificently. Harriet obedient-
ly stood still, and warched Madame
Carriers magnifcence settle itself
slowly in a basket chair. The old lady
freed an eyeglass ribbon deliberately.
Strengthened a rufie, laid her maya
zine beside her on a table. There
was a little matter Of which l wished
to speak to YOU" she said. ~suavely.