New Britain herald., 1923-10-26
The Mistake Hs,vies Had Made


 Harriet Brsithwaite locked st m. with the strained attention of cen seisniieus pupil trying 10 grasp problem in arithmetic, l saw thai the hypothetical question had put tf her had caught her fancy and thai she was nondering e.
 You mean" she said slowly, ''thsl
 Edwin has no different admiration
 and liking for Katherine than h
 would have were she an egnall valuable and faithful masculine ss' kisfsnts"
 Not exactly" l replied honestly That is partly his reaction to her but think he slso regards Rather inc with the fatherly feeling that Ina gives all young girls. Did yon see him with Marion tonight"
 Her ansuished eyes answered me. and hurried on,
 But Harriet, I honestly believe. as l always have, that there Is no shadow of reason for you 10 imagine he has any sentimental regard for Katherine, It is simply that she epitomises to him
 l stopped contusedly. was get. ting into deep water There were things which it would be an imper, finence for me 10 say 10 my sister in-law, and I had pulled myself up on the brink Of one of them.
 The daughter he never had" she finished for me unsteady tones. but with lips pnilid and trembling. You need not hesitate to say it. Margaret, have said it to myself million times in the years which have trapped along since realized the mistake had made. Edwin always depended on me so much. and his splendid career was SO vital to ua both--r always felt that I could not take care of him and Of children al- go. so-for his career gave up moth erhood. And now
 Harriet Regains Her Poise.
 Her voice traied off into silence. but I saw with relief that she was regainins the poise which always has been hers. She would not break down--thst danger was past and ventured the suggestion which has been in my mind for long time whenever I have thought of her problem.
 Have you ever thought of adopt ing a hild--of--children?
 She made swift gesture of re- pulsion,
 IT cant. Margaret" she said. "Children of my own blood or Ed
 ,1.t Nf dear perhaps. But there are no such children available. And the waifs with no background. with the risk involved of what they might be- would only be giving our hearts for changeling to tear ;" She paraphrased Kiplinx's lines with a bitter intonation.
 There are Elizabeth's children for instance" she went on. T could adore any one of them, especially Mary. She has such potentialities for good or evil that child, and is so essentially lovable, and I don't think she is quite understood. But of 'curse her parents would never give her up." Just in time repressed the com nent that 1t would be wonderful hing for talented. lovahle, imperious { put spoiled Mary Harrison if she a 'ould exchange the nagging, hypo- 2 critical cruelty of her mother for the T wonderful training in love which c Ter aunt could offer her. I remem- 'ered the child's tortured eyes as she a her mothers face upon the C nem orable occasion when Mother f sraham had rescued her granddaugh- CT and reduced the child's mother to 1 ,ysterical frightened tears. Not to ( Elizabeth Harrison's sister could be- I ray my dislike and disapproval of a Ter. But I caught Harriet's keen lance at me. and knew that she ,uessed what I had not said. s