The Elk Mountain pilot., 1922-01-12

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~Ths Lad Gets Beautiful and Wise
and vsry Disersst Wife," He Was
Beginning, But Harriet sileneed Him
Ansriiy.
he does care for me-" she repeated;
'he loves beauty-I can say that to
you without your MISUNDERSTANDING =
and then, he knows me, we have been
intimate for years, we are congenial !"
He knows everything about you"
Royal repeated, innocently, as II the
defense she made were perfectly ac-
ceptable. But again she was stung to
silence.
II am going to tell him frankly, ex-
actly what you have said to me-" Har-
ret said, presently, with decision and
relief In her voice II shall remind
him that have always been poor, and
that 1t is utterly impossible for me to
separate the thought of him from the
thought of what my life as his wife
would gain"
BE careful how you play your hand
alone!" the man said. "Half conf
dence isn't much more than none at
ALI"
A moment later they parted; the
woman entering the house for a cup
Of coffee, and some conference with
butler and housekeeper, and the man
starting off briskly for his early walk
But Blondin was smiling, as he went
upon his way. and Harriet was white
with anger and impotence.
"Fll put everything else l have in
this world in the balance, Royw she
said to herself, in the sunshiny silence
of the breakfast room. But I'll hold
no more stolen conversations with
you! I'll break my engagement with
Ward, I'll go to Richard Carter and
humiliate myself, I'll go back to Lin
da's house without n penny in the
world-but I'll be done with you
Thank God however the story may
sound, especially with your interpre.
tations on 1t, you haven't my honor
in your keeping, though you may seem
to haveW
The house was absolutely quiet
the clock on the stairs struck silvery
seven. Harriet went noiselessly to her
own room; Nina was sleeping heavily
She flung Off her clothes. sank into
bed. And now at last sleep came
deep, delicious, satisfying.
A day or two later there was a fam
lily conference in the library. and Har-
riet realized more clearly than ever
that 1t was impossible to forecast the
march of events. Richard announced
that after consideration he had de-
cided that 1t would be wiser for the
family to weather the storm of talk
that would follow Isabelle's disappear
ance in some neighborhood less con-
nected with her. He had therefore
leased an establishment on Long
Island, where the children could have
their swimming and tennis, and his
mother her usual nearness to town, but
where they would be comparatively
inaccessible to a curious press and
public, and might disappear for
grateful interval. The life at Hunting
ton would be less formal than at
Crownlands, but the house he had
taken was comfortable and roomy
there would be plenty of room for
Nina's girl friends and Wards gaests.
Miss Field, Bottomley and Hansen
would please see to II that the move
was made with al possible expedition.
II have explained to my mother and
the children" he said, quietly, to Har-
rie;. ''i' IT Mrs Carer has asked for
divorce. which VIII. of course. be
Immediately arranged. Now, Miss
Field, you will understand that you
are in charge from now on. My mother
will-well, you know how to handle
her She is old-enjoys her little bit
of mischief sometimes! Anything un-
usual you can refer to me; shall be
there every week, anyway"
He paused and ruffied the scattered
papers that were on the fat-topped
desk before him. Harriet watched
him anxiously. She thought he looked
tired and old, and her heart ached at
the troubled attempt he was making
to simplify the tragedy for them all.
He was not handsome, she reflected,
but surely there had never been
keener or pleasanter gray eyes, and
mouth so strong when 1t was In repose,
SO honest when 1t smiled. Not like
Wards ready and incessant laughter,
not like Royal Blondin's carefully cal
culated amusement.
Reaching this point in her thought,
facing him with her whole beautiful
face alive with emotion and interest,
Harriet smiled herself, involuntarily
and family. 1t was smile of almost
daughterly sympathy and comrade-
ship, friendly and innocent, and wholly
irresistible.
Richard, catching the look, was per-
haps unconsciously cheered by it.
Even at forty.four, and under his