Vernon Parish Democrat. (Leesville, La.) 1917-193?, 1922-04-06
-cHAPTER v.

dDOuI lWO u CIOCh TIC Win SLiCuLlCu
mercifully in hot and thick, but
prophetic of rain, and Harriet, wan
dering about to make windows fast,
encountered Linda, on the same err
rand. When the worst Of the crack
ling and flashing was over, the girl
glanced at her watch. Three o'clock,
but she could sleep now. She sank
deeply into dreams, not to stir until
I.inda's alarm clock, hastily smOth-
ered thrilled at seven, and the small
girls rose with cheerful noise, to let
streams of hot sunshine upon her face.
Immediately after breakfast the
two small girls attacked their Satur-
day mornings work with a philosophic
vigor that rather touched their aunt.
Fred had hurried away after his hasty
meal; the boys were turned out into
the backyard, which Pip was expected
to rake while he watched his small
brother.
Harriet's heart ached deeply for
them all as she watched the Jersey
marshes from the car window a few
hours later. Josephine was to be a
stenographer when she finished high
school, and little Julia had expressed
an angelic ambition to teach a kinder
garten class some day. Nina, at their
ages, had her pony, her finishing
school, her little silk stockings, and
her monogrammed ivory toilet set,
her trip to England and France and
Italy with her mother and brother
and grandmother.
Suppose that she, Harriet was right
in suspecting that Wards feeling was
more than the passing gallantry of
a llght-hearted boy? 1t would be a
nine-days' wonder, his marriage at
twenty-five with his mothers secre-
tary, more than four years his senior.
But after that? After that there
would be nothing to say or do. Young
Mr.. and Mrs. Ward Carter would es-
tablish themselves comfortably and
the elder Carriers would visit them ).
Isabelle absorbed as usual in her own
mysterious thoughts, and Richard
Carter
Harriet's thoughts, none too com
Portable up to this point, stopped here,
and she flushed. She would not enjoy
telling Richard that she was to marry
his son. Those keen eyes would read
her through and through, and while
her father-in-law might love her, and
see her beauty and charm with all
the rest Of the world, Harriet knew
that she must begin an actual cam
t. vrynHdfnay
day. The prospect had an uneXpect-
ed plquancy. She had little fear of
it's outcome. She would make Ward
| Carter a wife for whom his father
must come to feel genuine gratitude
and devotion. There would be chill
dren, there would lie hospitality and
music and a garden. And Ward
should seriously settle down to his
business, whatever it might be, and
show himself a worthy son of his
clever father.
"Why not-why not?" Harriet asked
herself, as she reached Madame Car
ter's pretentious apartment house, and
was whisked upstairs. She was to
meet Nina here, and she glanced about
for the big limousine at the curb, as an
indication that the old lady might be
ready to accompany them back to
Crownlands. But there was no car in
sight The maids first statement was
that Miss Carter had gone home with
her brother, and then Madame Carter
came magnifcently into the room.
swell, our bird has flown!" said the
old lady Harriet could see that she
was pleased about something.
"Gone home with WardT Harriet
asked. Madame Carter never shook
hands with her; there was conscious
superiority in the little omission. She
sank into a chair, and Harriet sat
| down.
Ward and his friend this Mr.. BlOn-
din" Madame Carter said. "a very
interesting-a most unusual man. A
very good family, too-excellent old
family. Yes Nina assured us that she
had to wait and go home with her
Daddy, but that" Madame Carter
gave Harriet deeply significant smile
but that didn't seem to please
Somebody very much I" she added. $50
1 told Nina thought Granny would be
able to make it all right with Daddy,
and off the young people went"
She rocked, with a benignly tri-
umphant expression, and cOmplacent
rustic Of silken skirts. Harriet, be-
meath an automatic smile, hid a trou.
bled heart Royal was losing no time,
Ward his innocent instrument, and this
fatuous old lady Of course playing his
| game for him
Harriet saw that she vas pleased
and hattered by an older mans appar-
! - $4,000. ~ n-lna nra that shn