,-C' .r Jr' lffl&l8&83?MU3llSua PAGE SIX so close to her owi». "fituf if I" ten when they met again she might be in not stop there. Nina was involved, swiftly along in the golden sunset that Motherxthat, she thinks Tm craxy!" a position to punish Royal Blondin, to and with Nina, Ward and Nina's streamed across the old back road, die added, lapsing into the school vernacular look down at him fronT heights that I I father and Isabelle "and wonder didn't go stark, staring a against desperate effort to even his audacity might not scale. The complications were endless her mad!" sustain the Conversation ai his level. That time, she told herself in the heart sickened before them. And yet, "Don't1 think about it," he urged, a |^"Becanse. you're little natural fever of the night, had not yet come. the conviction that Royal dared not with concern. rebel," Interpreted the man, smilingly. Her pitiful achievement#, her beauty betray her had been flooding Harriet's "No ni not think about it. Royal, '^Those eyes of yours say thatv And it her French and Spanish, her sober heart with exquisite reassurance during don't think that all my feeling was for doesn't make' for happiness. Little book reading, and her little affectations this past half hour. She was safe myself. I thought ,of you, too. I Girl!" he warned her. of fine linen and careful speech, her life at Crownlands took on a new missed you. Truly, I missed what you Nina narrowed her eyes, and stared all seemed to crumple to nothing. She and wonderful beauty with that knowledgei had given my life!" Into the green garden. She was not seemed again to be the furious, helpless. And if she was fit to continue A dark flush came to the man's face, wearing her glasses today, and hers seventeen-year-old Harriet of there. Nina's -companion, Isabelle's and when he spoke it was with an' were fine eyes, albeit a trifle prominent, the Watertown days, her- armor ineffectual confidante, guide and judge for the honest shame and gratitude in his and with a somewhat, strained against that suave and selfconfident whole household, could she with any iB-We-v' i. voice that would have surprised the expression. .presence. logic warn them against this man? women -who had only known him in' "Oh, I know that!" she said. "I like She had forced herself to unbind He had her trapped, and she saw it. his later years. K.^ the girls and boys—truly I do, and I the wrappings, to look at' the old To threaten his standing was to wreck "You are generous, Harriet," he ^^f^ti^qeer am popular with them al!.' I know wound. She had gone in spirit to that her own. said. "You were always the most that! But 'cases'!" said Nina with old, shabby parlor to which Linda and Her eyes looked beyond him darkly generous girl in the world!" scorn".. Fred had carried Josephine's crib late the girl was young and Innocent, More stirred than she wished to "Dear Heaven!" Royal said under every night, and where sheet music greedy for flattery, eager to live. What show herself, Harriet walked on, and his breath. "No—no—no—that's not had cascaded from the upright piano. ^opqriqhf bv| Kcrthleen Norr»s chance had little Nina Carter against there was a silence., for you!" he murmured. "And yet—" She saw, with the young husband and charm like his—experience like his? "Linda and Fred made it hard for her. heart full of the confusion and (Continued From Last Week) wife, a fiery, tumble-head girl of fifteen "I may never be asked to the house you?" he asked. happiness that this unusual mood "of or sixteen, who helped with her after tomorrow night," said Blondin. Nina was duly dressed for the tea confidence and affection on Mary Putnam's "Oh, no! They were angels. But of sister's cooking and housework, who "She won't be here tomorrow night party the next day, and went to show course In their eyes, and mine, too— part had brought her. adored the baby, who planned a future This may be the beginning and end of herself to her mother while Harriet I was marked." "Perhaps!" The smooth, cool hand on the stage, or as a great painter, or it. All I ask is that if I am made welcome dressed. The young girl looked her touched hers for a second before Mrs. Silence. Royal Blondin gave her a as a great writer—the means mattered here, on my own merits, you best in filmy white with its severely Putnam went upon her gracious way. glance full of distress and compunction. not so much that the end was won't interfere! The mere fact that plain ruffles, and with a wide white Harriet hardly heard the bustle, and But he did not speak, and It fame and wealth and happiness for you're living here doesn't mean that hat on her thick, smoothly dressed confusion about her for a few minutes. was Harriet who ended the pause. Harriet. you have the moral responsibility of hair. Miss Field, too, although she She sat musing, with her splendid eyes "Well, that's what a little girl of Fred had brought Royal Blondin in was very pale today, looked "simply the family on your shoulders, does It?" fixed upon some point invisible fo the eighteen may do with her life!" she1 to supper one night, and Royal had "No-o," Harriet admitted, in a gorgeous," as Isabelle expressed It, joyous group about her. said. "I have been a fool—I have laughed with the others at the spirited troubled tone. when she saw them off in the car, made a wreck of mine!" To Nina, meanwhile, had come the little waitress who delivered herself of although Harriet's gown was not new, "Of course not! You live your life, "You are the most beautiful woman' most extraordinary hour of her life. tremendous decisions while she came and I mine. Is there anything wrong and the little flowered hat she had in the world," Royal Blondin said, She had sauntered to a green bench, and went with plates, and forgot to crushed down upon her splendid hair about that?" steadily, "you are established here, under great maples, with Lettice Graham take off her checked blue apron when had been Isabelle's own a season ago "You know you would never look they all adore you! Why do you say and Harry Troutt and Anna she finally slipped into her place. at that girl except for her money, Harriet was in no holiday mood she Poett. And Joshua Brevoort had come that your life is a wreck?" The man had been a derelict then, felt herself in a false position this Roy!" she burst out. for Anna, and they had sauntered "1 am the daughter of Professor as now. But he was nine years older "Nor would anyone else!" he amended, was to be one of the times when she away, with that mysterious ease with Field,'' said Harriet, "and at twentyseven than Harriet Field. He had had the suavely. which other girls seemed to manage I am the paid companion of same delightful voice, the same penetrating paid high for all the beauty and luxury Harriet gave a distressed laugh. young men. And then Harry and Lettice Mrs. Richard Carter's daughter! Oh, eyes. He had brought poetry, of her life. "Come! You and I never saw eacu had in some manner communicated well—I was happy enough to have the music, art, into the sordid little parlor "Here we are!" Ninai gave a startled with each other, for Lettice had other until this week," Blondin urged. opportunity. What of yourself? Where of the Watertown apartment he had glance at the lawns and gardens "That's the whole story." jumped up suddenly, saying: "Nina, have you been?" helped Harriet to tame and house of the Jay mansion already dotted Before she answered, the girl looked will you excuse us? We'll be back But he was not quite ready to drop those soaring ambitions. She felt with awnings and chairs, and sprinkled beyond him at the splendid stables and directly," and they had wandered off the personal note. again those kisses that had waked the with the bright gowns of the first lawns of Crownlands. It never lost in the direction of the river, giggling "Harriet, now that we have met, little-girl heart Into passionate womanhood arrivals. They were early, and their Its charm for her, her castle of as they went. Nina had smiled gallantly we'll be friends? My life now is among she shut her eyes and pressed hostess, a handsome, heavily built dreams she had longed to be part of in farewell, but her feelings vnese people you'll not be sorry If we her hand tight against them. So young woman with corsets like armorplate were deeply hurt. She hated to sit on just such a household all her lifel occasionally meet?" —so happy—so confident!—plunging under her exquisite gown, and a Now she actually was part of it, and— here, visibly alone, and yet there was •*i.n this casual way—no. we can, headlong into that searing blackness. blonde bang covering her forehead, if what Mary Putnam had hinted was small object in going back to the absorbed *rand that!" she agreed. The fears And now Royal Blondin was back She Looked Up at Him to Find His came forward with her daughter to groups nearer the house. true, if her own fleeting suspicion only or the night rose like mist, melted again, and she was not ready for him. Eyes Fi*ed Steadily Upon Her, and meet them. Francesca was as slight a few evenings ago was true then she Then came the miracle. For as she away. It was bad enough, but It was She could not score now. But he as a willow, with a demurely dropped Flushed Happily, With a Fast-Beating uncomfortably waited, Ward's friend, might some day really belong to „iot what her ihflamed and fantastic conld hurt her Irreparably if he Heart. ', little head and a honeyed little selfpossessed the queer man with the black eyes and Crownlands, in good earnest! apprehension had made it. He was would. Isabelle was an indifferent manner. thick hair, suddenly took the seat beside Harriet made her choice. and he turned upon her a look that no revengeful villain, after all. He mother, and an incorrigible flirt, but "Very decent of you, Miss Field!" her. Nina's heart gave a plunge, "Very well," she said, briefly. "I un Nina was to remember with a thrill in did not mean to harm her. at. the first word, at the first hint—ah, breathed Mrs. Jay, in a voice like that for if she was 111 at ease with "kids" derstand you. I turn in here. Goodnight the waking hours of the summer night "I've been everywhere," he said, answering there would be no arguing, no weighing of a horn. "You girls run along now— like Harry and Joshua, how much less 5 her question. "I made two —"and yet, is it kindness to wake you of the old blame and responsibility! people will be comln* at any minute. could she manage a conversation with "Just a second!" he said, detaining up, child?" he mused. "Is it right to rrips to China from San I If Francisco. there was the faintest cloud I'm going to take Miss Field to the the lion of the hour! /feut Royal Blondin her. "You won't hurt me with any of vas interested in Chinese antiques. show you the full beauty of that questing of doubt, that would be enough! table. Thr^e hundred people comin'," needed no help from Nina. tliem. Ward or the girl, or the father?" Then I went into a Persian nig thing, soul of yours?" Harriet had shaken back her mane she confided as Harriet followed her The girl's lips curled with distaste. I with a dealer. We handled rugs across the lawn, and to the rather "You're little Miss Carter, aren't "No." she said tonelessly. Tt was said as if to himself, as if of hair, had lUmmered furious fists quiet corner of the awninged porch youV" he said. "We were introduced, together up on the dark balcony. It In another second she was gone. He he thought aloud. But Nina answered went all over the Union. After that, where the tea table stood. "I'll leave back there, but there were too many it. wasn't fair—it wasn't fair—just now, four years ago, I went to Persia and I you here, and you just ask for anything young men around you then for me to snw the slender figure, in Its green when she was so, secure and happy! India, and met some English people, "1 often think." she said, mirthfully you need—" get a word iu! Nice boys, all of them! gown, disappear at a turning of the She had flung her arms across the "that if people knew .what I was and went with tliein to Loudon. The matron melted away Harriet But not worth your while!" railing, and buried her hot face on ivied wiill. She paused for no backward thinking, they'd go crazy! I manage Then I came back here, as a sort of looked after her broad, retreating Nina murmured a confidence. glance of farewell. But Royal them, and had wept desperate and angry press agent to a Swami who wanted to to keep the appearance of doing exactly back Indifferently. She would have "What did you say?" Blondin saul. tears into the silken and golden Blondin was satisfied. what the others do. and I laugh be introduced in America, and after he loaned! Harriet any amount of money, "But come," he added, frankly, "you're tangle that shone dully in the starlight. and flirt just as if that was the only left I rather took up his work, Yogi (To be Continued* the girl reflected, smoldering, she not afraid of me, are you? My dear and interpretive reading, 'Chitra' and thing in life! If people want to think would have shown her genuine friendship little girl, I'm old eiiough to be your She did not refuse him her hand I am a butterfly, why, l^t then} think 'Shojo'—you don't know them?" and generosity in a crisis. But TIRE LOG WILL HELP fa ther! Look up—1 want to see those OW when he came to the tea table, or her She shook her head, sufficiently at so! My friend Miss Hawkes says that she would not introduce people to eyes. That's better. Now, that's more eyes, and there was friendliness, or I have two natures—but I don't know ease now even to smile in faint derision. Harriet this afternoon, and in a day friendly. ^Tell me what you said?' Use Small Note Book and Keep Aocurate the semblance of It, in the voice with about that!" or two she wo,uld send Harriet a bit "1 said—that mother expected me Record of Date Put on, which she said his name. That he was She looked up at him to find his "And what's the future in it, Roy?" of lace, or a dainty waist, as a delicate to—to like them." Taken Off and Mileage. waiting, perhaps as fearfully as she, eyes fixed steadily upon heir, and Now that the black dread was laid, she reminder that the courtesy had been "To—? Oh, to like the boys. Mother flushed happily, with a fast-beating for his cue, was evidenced by the could almost like him. a business one, after all. expects it Of course she does! And Do you keep a tire log? It will quick relief with which he echoed the heart. "The present is extremely profitable," Presently the sun came out for Harriet some day she'll expect to dress you in help a lot when you go to the adjuster "With one of those natures I have old familiarity. he said dryly, "and I suppose in the arrival of a tall, swiftly white, and bid us all to come and with your tale of woe. Use, a "Harriet! I find you again. I've nothing to do," Royal said. "But the there might be—well, say a marriage moving, dark-eyed woman, some ten dance at the wedding! But in the small note book and give a separate been waiting all this time to find you! other I claim as my friend. Come, in' it, some day—" years older than she was herself: meantime, Mother mustn't blame someone page to each tire. Rule off five vertical I'd heard Ward speak of 'Miss Field,' "A rich widow?" Harriet suggested, how about it? Are we going to be Mary Putnam, one of the real friends who has just a little more discernment columns. Label them as follows: friends? I am old enough to be your of course! But it never meant you. simply. the girl had gained in the last four than—well, young Brevoort, for Date put on, speedometer reading, to me. I've been thinking of you all father, you know you may telJ "Or a little girl with a fortune, like years. Young Mrs. Putnam, Harriet example, for seeing that her tame date taken off, speedomoter reading, Mother that it is perfectly safe. Will night." this little Carter girl," he added, used to think, with a little natural dove is really a wild little seagull mileage. Make the partial totals in you give me your hand on it—and your "I've been thinking, too," she said, lightly. jealousy under her admiration, had starving for the sea. And you don't the last column and add any other eyes? Good girl! And novg I'll take simply. Harriet gave him a swift look. everything. She was not pretty, but want to fall in love with one of these information necessary, such as kind you back to be scolded for running "It's after six," Blondin said with "Don't talk nonsense! Nina's only hers was a distinguished appearance lads for a year or two, anyway of weather, etc. away from your friends for so long. a child!" and a lovely face she had the selfpossessed a glance about. "We can't talk here. "Oh, my, no!" Nina felt the expression I'm dining with Mother tomorrow. i.'nncr of a woman whose Can you get away* Can we go somewhere?" "She's almost eighteen, isn't she?" inadequate, but her breath had whole Hf- hns Ikh'd given to the social Shall I see you?" The girl walked swiftly on for a full been taken away. The man had arts sin- had a clever, kindly, silent "Oh, yes—if Mdther lets me come minute. Without another word she deserted CLltVowCbruitihed turned about a little, his eyes were down!" fluttered Nina. "But, no— "You weren't—quite—a child at f» hushnnd who adored her: her home, her seat, pinned on her hat, and all for her, and his arm, laid carelessly JMt Sjicceil? we're to be at Granny's!" she remembered. her garden, her clubs and her charities. eighteen," he reminded her. picked up her gloves. along' the, back of the green bench, and finally she had her nursery, The color flooded her transparent almost touched the white ruffles. They "There's a very quiet back road Here is your opportunity to insure where Billy and Hetty were rioting "Soon, then!" He left her In the dusky skin. were in full sight of the house, too, straight down to Crownlands," she against embarrassing errors in spelling, through an ideal childhood. circling group, but all the world saw "That's—exactly—what I was!" she iiud if Lettice or Anna came back, said, considering. "We might walk." pronunciation and poor choice of him kiss her hand. Nina wandered "liarnen—you dear child!" said the said dryly. "But talk to Nina, if you words. Know the meaning of puzzling they would see Nina in deep and lasting "Anything!" he assented, briefly. rich and pleased voice, as Mary's flue about in a daze of pleasure and satisfaction war terms. Increase your'efficiency, don't believe me! Everything that Is conversation with the man that all Guided by Harriet, who was familiar which results in power and success. hand crossed lhe tea table for a welcoming for another half-hour, paying the older women were so mad about— with the place, they slipped through WEBSTER'S attentions to Mother's poky friends louch. "But how nice to find "You don't. But—what?" He bent the hallway, and out a side door. They you here! I've just been trying to with a sparkle and charm that amazed his dark head. NEW INTERNATIONAL had no sooner gained silence and solitude think how long it is since I've seen them. Presently Ward and the demure* "I said, 'But I don't know how you than the man began deliberately: you." Amy Hawkes found her the car was knew it'!" Nina repeated, looking "Harriet, I have not thought of anything DICTIONARY "Not since the day you lunched with waiting. Miss Field, Ward said, was ia an all-knowing down in her overwhelming self-consciousness, else since I came upon you yesterday, teacher, a universal question Mrs. Carter, and that was^ulwost two no longer at the tea table she had but with a smile of utter after all these years. I want answerer, made to meet weeks ago!" your left a message to the effect that she happiness and exciteinent. you to tell me that you—you aren't needs. It ia in daily use by Mrs. l'utnani settled herself in the was walking home and would be there A second later she looked up In hundreds of thousands of suc­ angry with me. You knew—you knew neighboring chair. as soon as they were. some alarm.- He was silent—she had cessful men and women the world over. how desperately I tried to find you, "I'm chaperoning little Lettice Graham somehow said the awkward thing He asked Amy and Nina, whose Irrepressible 400,000 Words. 2700 Pages. 6000 Illustrations. Harriet? What a hell I went through?" 12,000 Biographical Entries. for a week," she began, in thedelightful gossip and giggling met with again 1 Nina's heart fluttered nervously. 30,000 Geographical Subjects. If she had steeled herself against voice upon which Harriet only silence and scowls from his superior GRAND PRIZE. (Hi* ?hest Award) the possibility of his shaking her, she had modeled her own. "But Lettice But what she saw reassured her. altitude, if they knew why Miss Panama-Pacific Exposition. failed herself now. It was with an and is trying her little arts upon Ward REGULAR INDIA-PAPER Editions. Royal Blondin had squared himself Harriet had decided to walk. They involuntary and bitter little laugh that WRITE for Specimen Pages. FREE Carter. Dear boy, that!" about, and had folded his arms, and stared at each other Innocently, on the Pocket Maps if you name this paper. she said: "Ward? He is a dear!" Harriet was staring darkly into space. brink of fresh laughter. No they G. & C. MERRIAM CO., said, innocently. "You had no monopoly of that, Springfield, Mass., U. S. A. hadn't the least idea. "How I knew it!" he said in a halfwhisper, "No blushing?" Mary Putnam asked, Roy." as if to himself, after a full with a smiling look. The color came CHAPTER III. "But you ran away from me!" he half-minute of silence that thrilled into Harriet's lovely face, and the accused her. "When I went to find Nina to the soul. "Child, I don't know! smoky blue eyes widened Innocently. Royal Blondin* went straight from you, they told' me the Davenports had Some day you and I will read books "Blushing—for Ward?" she asked. moved away. Won't you believe that together—wonderful books! And then Nina to the tea table, which was almost Mrs. Putnam stirred her tea thoughtfully. perhaps we will begin to understand deserted now. Harriet saw him I felt terrible—that I walked the coming, and she knew what hour had streets, Harriet, praying—praying!— the cosmic secret—why your soul a$!W- "I didn't know," she said. "You're ttfat I. jnight catch a glimpse of you. reaches out to mine—why I not only come. She stood up as he reached young, and you know him well, and It was the uppermost thought for want to know you better, but why it is her. and they measured each other you're—well, you have appearance, as narrowly, with unsmiling eyes. years—how many years? Seven?" my solemn obligation to take the exquisite It were! Ward has fine stuff in him, thing your coming into my life There was reason' for her paleAess "More than eight," she corrected, is' and also, I think, he is beginning to may mean to us both! You and I have today, and for'the faint violet shadows in a somewhat lifeless voice. "I was care. It would be an engagement that Bgiaaaaaaiiiaga somehow found each other in all this about her beautiful eyes. Harriet had eighteen. My one thought, my one ?.-!' would please the Carters, I imagine." wilderness of lies and affectations, and lain awake deep into the night, tossing hope,, when I last saw you, in Linda's The word engagement brought a we're we?" going to be friends, aren't and feverish. She had always house," she went on, with sudden passion, IV "A Rich Widow?" Harriet Suggested, MORE filmy vision before Harriet's eyes, born "I—hope we are!" Nina said, clearing thought that he must come back for "was that I would never see you Simply. MONEY of the fragrance and sunshine of the her throat, with a bashful laugh. years the fear had haunted her at again! But I'm glad to hear you say summer. She saw a ring, laughter "You know we are!" Royal Blondin every streef crossing, at every ring of this, Roy," she added, In a gentler school-girly and romantic and undeveloped, and congratulations, dinner parties amended. And in a musing tone he Linda's doorbell. At first it had been tone. "I'm glad ^ou—felt sorry. Our is Nina. She is absolutely inexperienced If Yon Ship Us Your and receptions, shopping In glittering added: "I'm afraid I was a little bitter but a shivering apprehension of his going away was a mere chance. Fred she's what I called her, a Fifth avenue. HIDES FURS a few hourB ago. And then I saw you, claims, an anticipation of what he Davenport u&s offered a position on child! It's—preposterous!" "A boy In Ward's position may do Just an honest, brave, bewildered little Writt Ha FIRST For might expect or want from her. Then a Brooklyn paper, and we alL moved "I suppose," the man drawled, "that a»ccfal Inforaadoa much worse than marry a lovely and girl, .wondering why the deuce they came a saner time, when she told herself I that is a question for the young lady, KIL MCCr«NhttiUH|CT Ml MOT from Watertown to Brooklyn.' was sensible woman," Mrs. Putnam said. all make such a fuss about nothing*—, Wi Iff. that she was an independent human grateful for it I only wanted to disappear and her parents, and myself to decide." —PI HBCB MjjjMHttTl MM "Well, it just occurred to me. It Is clothes and bridge parties and dinners—** as being as well he, that she Linda stood by me, her children Harriet bit her lip. This was utterly your affair, of course. But looking Writs for pries Hn. uaMaJ tall iatotMtloa might meet his argument with argument, I saved my .life. was nurserymaid unexpected. Into her calculations, up back one sees how much just the— "They never sky anything worth D.Bergman and a saw his threat with threat for year or two-—I never to this point, she had taken only Royal ®0d. well, the lack of a tiny push has while!" Nina said, with daring. There or I look anybody went anywhere! But for the past year or two her Blondin and herself. If his words covered meant. In one's life!" was exquisite-homage In the dropped,1 ST .PAUL-/A.1NIS. lessening to thoughts of him had taken hgck," Harriet said, balking more" any truth, then the matter did i_"And this Is the push!" Harriet ald. listening head^ the eyesvthat smiled new and walking form. Harriet had hoped Jthat herself than to him