American Fork citizen. [volume] (American Fork, Utah) 1912-1979, 1922-03-11

IN s"u you came nome, my O0y,"
Richard said. "Tve been waiting for
you"
Harriet heard no more she slipped
from the room. There were genuine
tears In her own eyes now: for the
boy had flung himself face downward
against . great chair. and was crying.
All the household knew Il; Harriet
could read II In Bottomley's carefully
usual manner and quiet speech. In the
little music room across the hall Royal
Blondin was waiting.
This v q terrible thing T.. he said.
seriously.
"Oh, frightfull" Harriet agreed. A
rather fiat silence ensued. She seemed
to have nothing to say to Royal now.
But she was not surprised when, a
moment later, Nina came softly In. the
picture Of sirlish distress, with her wet
eyes and fresh white gown.
II thought II best to leave Ward
with Granny and Father" Nina said,
In vague explanation, going straight to
Blondin, who rose. dusty and weary.
but with solicitous manner that was
Infinitely soothing.
His manner, Harriet had grudgingly
to admit. was perfection. When Rich
ard and Ward Joined them q few mo
ments later, he expressed himself with
manly brevliy to the older man. He
realised, said Blondln. simply. that he
was absolutely de trop; he had merely
imagined, as "the lad had imagined.
that the sudden summons from camp
meant Illness or ordinary emergency.
or he would not have intruded at this
time. He would not express a SYM
pathy that must sound extremely airy
to the stricken family. Aud now, II
they would ieud him Hansen. he would
60 over. TO the club
Nonsense - Ward said. You're all
dirty and tired and hungry, and so am
I. Wen clean up, and then well have
something to eat FIRST Miss Harriet
will look out for U.S."
And I'd like to see you for a mo.
| iDent In the library, Miss Field" Rich
/ ard said, rather YEARLY. II want
something sent to the papers," he ex'
planned In an undertone.
Ah--they all wanted her, and f.eeded
her! How quick. and how efficient.
and how self-effacing Harriet was as
| she went about the business OF making
them all comfortable!
They talked deep into the night,
| 90 oh I.
sleepless. and she could see from the
upper balcony that a stream Of golden
light was pouring across the brilliant
flowers beneath the library windows.
| She reviewed the incredible eventl
Of the past few days, and the actor
drifted before her vision ntfully: LEA
belle. white bosomed and beautiful. 4
her prime Tony Pope. passionate IN
wretchod: Royal, low.volced. dreamy
poetic. with bis eloquent BLACK syss
Nina, newly awakened; Ward. weak
boyish. ardent; Madame Carter. full Of
theatrical dignity and well-rounded
phrases. and lastly--simple. strong
anxious to protect them all. even from
their own follies-Richard.
"Not one word Of blame. not one
ugly insinuation." she unused, "yet she
has shamed him, and he IL so honor
able; and she has made him conspicu
Gus, when no 10 20 modesto"
She thought Of Isabelle. fresh from
Germaine's careful hands, lying In heI
exquisite white against the cushions
Of deck chair. smiling. In the rosy
hattering Hight under the green avn
Ing, at the infatuated man beside her
| "Ugh!" said Harriet, with a healthy
uprush Of utter disgust. These few
months would not be cloudless for lisa
belle. by any means. And after them
whatf Was Il conceivable that those
fatal sixteen years would fail to iden
tify Tony and Isabelle wherever the,
went, even though the press was moi
eagerly assisting them? Supp0sini
that Isabelle never thought Of Crown
lands. Of her handsome son aud hel
young daughter. Of the man whose pa
thence and cleverness had lifted her I,
all this luxury from an apartment In I
small town. would no memory Of thu
place she had held. and the friend
ships she had commanded. haunt her
Truly there was always society for thu
Isnbelles. but to Harriet's clean sens
1t seemed but the society OF jail.
II wouldn't change places with her !
Harriet decided, In the soft silence ant
darkness Of the summer night.
From Isabelle's problem her thought
went to her own, to Royal BlOndin. Sh,
was wakeful and restless tonight sim
ply because she could not decide Jus
how much she need fear him. Firstly
was there any reason for agonizinI
him. and secondly, would he hurt he
II she didf For Royal could not punisl
her without Furnishing himself, an
could not bapish her from Crownland
II he ever hoped to show his own fac
there again. But Nina!
Was Blondin so badf She tried b
ask herself the question honestly. an
an honest shudder answered II bsfor
It was fairly framed. She tried TO pic
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