Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1922-02-15
HARRIET
and The
PIPER
9y
Kathleen Norris
illustration, by
Irwin Myers
IIIIIi'IIIiIliiIIlII ilIIiIlIIIIlllIIIlIIIiIl
Copyright By kathleen Norris

Copyright By Kathleen Norris
lie saw them Join tie group Of sail
INK girls aud the harussed French.
man; saw the aliens face brighten as
Harriet wax introduced \ moment
later boy with a tennis racket
dashed up to lhm aud there wac q
scattering IN the direction of the
courts The girls surrounded the boy
aud streamed sway chalterlng, The
mntron IN yellow came back to her
card table. And Harriet unfurlinp
her parasol. deep In conversation with
the captured soldier, sauntercd slowly
after the tennis players, The after
noon sunshine sent clean shadows
across the clipped grass; the stretched
blue silk OF Harrlets parasoI threw u
mellow orange light upon her tawny
hair and salfrOn-colored gown,
Richard had child's desperate
wish that he was dressed, and might
run after them.
But II was not AT the tennis that hr
looked, twenty minutes later, when he
reached the courts; although Il bril-
liant play was being made, and there
was SCATTERING Of applause. Ills
eyes instantly found lIarriets figure
she was still talking 10 the French
nun, whose olive face was glowing
with interest and admiration, and MT
more than eight inches, Richard
thought, from her own lIurriors own
face wore the shadow Of smile, hen
Iashes were dropped. and she WAS
gently pushing the point of her closed
parasol into the green turf The
chairs in which they sat had heor
slightly turned from the court
Richard engaged himself in CONVEX
sation with two or three men ana,
women who were watching the young
sters game. and presently found him
self applaudlng his son for % brilliant
ace BUT after perhaps five U.nul"
he walked quite without NpiIt.ol
straight to llaricts ncighborhood
and she rose at once. introduced hr'
new friend, and with "A glance at h"'
wrist. announced that she must gov.
Ward said he would drive me homo
the instant il was over said llarrirl
clipping heartily for the triumphant
finish of the set.
"I'n drive you home, Richard said
instantly. rive tine small car"
"Friday night" Harriet smiled. FoI
Friday night was the night for Il nouE
dinner and poker game at the country
club, and Richard usually liked to b,
there.
~ can come back" he persisted
suddenly caring more for this cuucee
sion than anything else IN the world
Without another word she agreed
badc her Frcnchman what seemed tC
Richard a voluble cood-by, and whcr
the bowling officer disappeared turned
with reminiscent smile
"And now WHAT
''Where did you learn to chatter
French that way Richard said
leading the way to the line Of parked
motors.
"Oh, we lived in ParS-oId Mrs
Rogers and / - Harriet reminded him
careleSsly. And reaching the little
rise of ground that lay between the
clubhouse and the parking field. She
stood stlll, looking off across the cX-
auisite spread of fields and valleys
banded by great strips of woods, and
flooded now by the streaming shadows
and golden lights Of the late after.
noon. What Il day she said, filling
her lungs with great breaths Of the
sweet air what an hour"
What | meant to say to you up
there on the porch" Richard said,
"when that-that woman interrupt
ed"
Harriet herself interrupted with Il
laugh.
You say that woman ms if If wa
a bitter, deadly CURSE she said.
"Wcll--" They had reached tie en-
now, and Richard was Investigating
the oil gauge and SPARK plugs under
the hood. "Well woman like that
breaks in-nothing to her" hc sljc
with scorn, strightCning NJ.
yes. hut at country club EIar
rlct offered, placatingly, as lie go
into the front seat and tucked the
pongec robe snucly about the saffron
colorcd gown.
Il suppose So" lie got in beside