A I E your befng"here .would simply save the his arm about her shoulders, and murmur finished, simply. '"I thought 1 had friends. That Isn't exactly the Idea." day for Nina!"?'! to her consolingly. done with men. And there have been "We could ask Mrs. Tabor," Harriet "When my mother died," Madame "Oh, I really couldn't stay over New men, men like Ward, for instance, to said, soothingly "It is right in the Carter quavered, with her handkerchief Year's," Mrs. Tabor, looking slightly whom I could have been married without middle of the season, and perhaps she pressed to the tip of her nose, and the discomfited, said slowly. "You see, the feeling th&t I need make any mention 5» will feel she can hardly spare the time. p* ,} Fordyces—" She looked undecided, "my sisters and I wore black, and refused of that old time. But I wanted But Tm sure that If she can—" and bit her under-lip. all social engagements for one PIPER to tell you." "If I ask her, she'll go," Nina said, 1 plf- W-- year. We then, I remember distinctly, "One wonders—?" she said, musingly. 'Thank you very much," Richard in a sulky, confident undertone. 3^',' began to wear white and lavender—* 1 io had said, gravely. "If the protection "Of course, I shouldn't want intrude Harriet had her doubts, but she did Nina broke in pettishly :i "I don't see tonight—It would be merely to of my name and my house seems welcome not express them. A month at Nassau, is$, why I have to wear black!" have them feel that I was here—" to you, after some battling with by Kathleen Norn^r In the undiluted company of Nina "Why should you?" Ward said with "Mr. Carter has asked me to see that the world, it will„ !be an additional satisfaction and her grandmother, was enough to bitter scorn. "It's only your mother!" to me." the family is alone tonight," Harriet Af- appall even Harriet's stout heart. .' ...A* Nina began to cry. And then before another word Was said, courageously, "but of course he The event proved her right, for while "You and I will go down to Landmann's spoken Fox had confe in, announcing may feel that you are an exception,** Ida Tabor flew at once to her disconsolate early tomorrow, Nina," Harriet the car, and they had begun the long, she added, with the impersonal air of little friend, and assured Richard suggested, "and we'll have some strange drive. a mere employee. "I only want to be with tears in her eyes that she one show us what is simple and nice She got into the luxurious bed, put able to tell him that I repeated his would dor anything in the world to help —not crape, you know," Harriet said, out the bedside light, and lay with request, end told you the reason for it. she weakened when the actual Mm, with a glance at Richard Carter, "but her hands clasped behind her head, That's"—and she smiled pleasantly— test arrived. black, for a few months, anyway." thinking. The' clock struck one snow "that is as far as my authority goes, "If just you and I and your dear "I think that yould be the least, wee still falling steadily outside, but of course. I shall say simply that you grandmother were going, dearest girl," s: Richard," his mother approved. "I believe fppMriqKt by Kb Hi teen Norr ,ln here the last pink glow of firelight know of his wishes, and If you remain, she said to Nina, "then it would be perfect. I will go with you," she condescended flickered and sank—flickered and I know I can say that it was to please But as long as Miss Field, who to Harriet, "after all, Isabelle sank laslly. Nina!" (Continued From Last Week) down to an earlier breakfast even is perfectly charming and conscientious was my daughter-in-law, and the And now the two women exchanged 8ome sudden thought made Harriet than Fred's, and had said briefly that and all that, feels that she must 8YNOP8I8. mother of my grandchildren!" an open glance that needed no pretehse smile ruefully. She Indicated that it she was returning to the Carters, and accompany us, why—you and I would and no concealment, and it was a "And I won't go to California or Bermuda was unwelcome by turning over to would see them all soon. never be a moment alone, sweetheart, CHAPTER I.—Harriet Field, twentyrbt glance of enmity. or anywhere else unless Ladybird bury her bright head In the pillow, years old and beautiful, le the so* Why hadn't she told Linda? Well, you know that! I don't like to think "When I visit this house it is not at comes!" Nina burst out, with a 1 secretary of the flirtatious Mrs. Isale and resolutely composing herself for for one reason, she had hardly believed that it's jealousy—" Carter, at "Crownlands," Richard broken sob. deep. her own memory of the talk on iter's home, and governess of 17-yearOld "Of course It's jealousy," Nina was "Nonsense!" her father began harshly. Nina Carter. Ward, twenty-four years Christmas day with Richard. Then pleased to decide, gloomily. "Granny old and impressionable, fancies himself In Harriet said: CHAPTER XI. love with his mother's attractive secretary. says that we don't need her, but Father "Bermuda? Is there a plan for Bermuda?" Mrs. Carter's latest "affair" Is just sticks to it that she must With young Anthony Pope, and the youth Morning found them half-buried in IB taking it very seriously. manage everything.'" "I suggested it for a few weeks," a bright dazzle of snow, the midwinter Richard said, frowning, "but I don't CHAPTER II.—Presiding over the teacups miracle that sets the most jaded this summer afternoon, Harriet Is propose to have Nina invite a groiy) of (To be Continued heart singing and the weariest blood profoundly disturbed by the arrival of a visitor, Royal Blondin. Next day, at a to moving more quickly. Harriet was tea party in the city, Blondin makes himself through with her housekeeping and agreeable to Nina, and leaves a deep her luncheon, and meditating a letter impression on the unsophisticated girl. Lis'ten, Peggy to Linda, when Ida Tabor fluttered in. CHAPTER III. Harriet's agitation ~-every madder Harriet heard the gay voice at the gives her kiddies "over the appearance of Blondin at KELLOGG'S be. "Crownlands" Is explained by the fact foot of the stairs: "Oh, sweetheart! cause you can eat that he bad been a disturbing element In Where's my little girl?" great big bowl« her life ten years before, and she fears an' they taste him. The man is an avowed adventurer, Mrs. Tabor looked a trifle dashed an' living on the gullibility of the idle rich. when only Harriet responded, although they're all crispy He frankly announces to Harriet his Intention an' dandy!" of marrying Nina, who, as the she immediately assured Miss Field daughter of the wealthy Richard Carter, cordially with bright insincerity that Is a highly desirable "catch," and urges her to aid him. She is In a sense In his she had known of her return, and was power, and after pleading with him to "so glad!" abandon his scheme agrees to follow a Hon "I've been a sort of big sister here," W never policy of neutrality. she said, laughingly, "land, my Lord, CHAPTER IX.—In the new home Harriet, these kids have managed things wonderfully! with Madame Carter and Nina, settle tasted Com Hakes so down for a vacation. In a frank talk But I suppose sooner or with Nina Harriet endeavors to show her later the machinery would have Blondin's unworthlness, but It haa little effect on the Infatuated girl. On Richard stalled without your fine Italian Carter's insistence, Harriet Is Installed joyously flavored, so hand!" as mistress of the household, but finding her position untenable, declares her "Mr. Carter asked me to come Intention of leaving. Richard makes an back,'' Harriet stated, simply. She offer of marriage, as a way out of the crispy as Kellers situation, but Harriet, considering such a thought the truth her best weapon, -CHixiiclgr thing impossible while Mrs. Carter but Mrs. Tabor was ready for her. (though divorced) Is still alive, refuses, "When I Visit This House It Is Not and leaves the house. To her old-fashioned "Mary Putnam told us that you At Your Invitation, Miss Field!" Said ideas, the fact that Richard Carter were just resting and looking about," has been granted a divorce from his errlng-'wlfe Mrs. Tabor, Frankly. does not free him from marital hlB she said, Innocently, "and Dick—generous That's why big and little folks who know the difference ties, and marriage with him Is Impossible. "It Isn't Exactly What I Expected your invitation, Miss Field!" said Mrs. that he is—couldn't feel comfortable insist upon KELLOGG'S! The thing to do is to Marriage to Be/' Tabor, frankly. about it, I suppose!" make comparison—Kellogg's against any other kind 0f CHAPTER X.—At her sister's home "I am aware of that," Harriet said, Harriet helps to bring her small nephew Richard had telephoned Harriet she had feared opposition, feared corn flakes you ever ate! If it's quality, or all-the-time safely through an attack of diphtheriaLinda simply. at three o'clock that the morning papers Linda's shocked references to decent cordially approves Harriet's stand crispness or delicious or appetizing flavor you want— "Will you be so kind as to tell Nina on the question of marriage with a divorced would have "the news," and that Intervals of mourning Linda's frank well, just wait till you eat Kellogg's! And, what a delight man. David Davenport, Linda's and Madame Carter," the visitor was he was coming home to tell his children belief that there was no strong personal brother-in-law, warmly presses his suit, to know they're never leathery! resuming her wraps, and arranging her and Harriet has about made up her mind of their mother's death, tonight. feeling involved on Richard's to accept him when Richard Carter appears handsome hat and veil, "that I will be But she must get rid of this woman You'll get so cheerful about Kellogg's that the day's part Linda's advice to a bride. with the announcement that Isabelle here tomorrow, and that anything I can Is dead and no obstacle to his marriage now, somehow. It would be fatal to Harriet's face burned at the mere best hours will be when it's time to sit down with the with Harriet remains. The girl do I will be so glad to do!—Is that have Ida Tarbor here when Richard thought of it. No, she couldn't tell family in front of generous bowls all filled most to burstbig, yields, and the marriage Is quietly solemnized. Mrs. Warren's car, Bottomley? Thank Harriet offers to tell Richard Carter returned. Linda yet she was too tired to wrlt^ ing with those sunny-brown Corn Flakes! Never the circumstances of her entanglement you. Good afternoon, MJss Field!" "I might run up now and see the old tonight, anyway. Linda and Fred had with Blondin, but he refuses to listen. was a better time than tomorrow "Good afternoon, Mrs. Tabor!" Harriet not been at all approving, Christmas lady!" said Mrs. Tabor, who had flung morning to prove that KELLOGG'S "Not at all," Harriet had said. followed her to the hall door, and off her furs, and beautified herself at night. David had reproached her, had Corn Flakes are about the "gladdest "Ladybird and I are planning heard a Parthian shot, addressed In a her hand-bag mirror. She pressed her disappeared earlier than was expect of all good things to eat." trip," Nina had further confided. "I cheerfully high voice to kindly old lips together for the red coloring. "Mr. ed or necessary they had not failed shall be eighteen in February, you Mr$. Warren, Mrs. Fordyce's mother, Carter be here tonight?" she asked, of their suspicions. TOASTED Insist upon KELLOGG'S—the know, and we want to go round the who was in the limousine: casually. "Well! I must go to bed," she said kind in the RED and GREEN package—if world. Wouldn't it be wonderful to "Nobody home! All my trouble for CORN aloud, suddenly. She stood, one elbo^ Bottomley caused an interruption. you want to know how wonderfully go FLAK!? with her, for she's been about fifty nothing!" on the mantel, her 'beautiful eyes fixed Harriet turned to him with relief. But good corn flakes can be! times!" Old Mrs. Warren leaned against the unfortunately he answered the very on the dying fire. It was midnight "Wonderful!" Harriet had been frosted glass waved from the hollydressed question she was trying to evade. jSSSs obliged to concede. interior at Harriet, and the the room arid the house very still. "It "Mr. Carter had just telephoned 'm,~ "But, dearest child, what does your girl saw her lips frame "Merry Christmas Isn't exactly what I expected marriage and says that 'e'll be 'ere at about six, father think?" J" The door slammed Bottomley to be," she mused. "But after all," "Father—" Nina had shrugged regretfully. 'm!" came with stately footsteps up to the she said to herself, beginning to move "Oh, thank you, Bottomley!" Harriet "But I shall be of age!' hall again. Harriet gave a little laugh about with last preparations for bed," turned back to Ida, to see her complacently she had reminded her companion. of triumph. Now the coast was cleat! "I'm married to the man I love—nothing looosenlng outer wraps. "Yes. I know, dear, but Father'."ward Thus it was that Richard Carter can change that. And if he doesn't "I came in the Warrens' car," said for another three years, yov found only his mother and his children love me, he likes me. I've done noth CORN TXAKES she "they were to run over to say know!" at the dinner table that night, and no ing wrong, and if my life is just a little Merry Christmas to the Bellamys, and "Why. Ladybird says"—the girl hm guests under his roof. Miss Field, to different fr6ra most women's, why, then pick me up. But—if I won't be been ready, and had spoken will be sure, was at the head of the table, I shall have to make the best of it! in the way!—perhaps I might stay and Abe mkers of KELLOGG'S KRUMBLES and KELLOGG'S BRAN, cooked tad knm&led flushed —"Ladybird says tho but then Miss Field was a member of And I did tell him—I did tell him—" see Nina we've become great chums. in that case we'll go anyway, an*, the family. He Interrogated her briefly And her thoughts went back to the I suppose I'd better go to the room I she'll pay all expenses! That's tlx as they went in. first few minutes she had spent In always have? Then I'll run up and kind of frfc«nd she is!" "Ward's gang? That Eaton ass?" Richard's office that day. They had We'll Back The get the latest news of the Battle of "Oh, they went yesterday!" been alone, discussing tfye last details Shiloh from Madame Carter!" "Love'll come fast enough after "Speak to Bottomley?" of their astonishing plan, when she It was now or never Harriet's heart ward l'iigrim had said, and Harriet "Yes. He and Pilgrim are quite reconciled had suddenly taken the plunge.' began to beat. "Madame Carter has thought was rather a wise Pilgrim to remaining." Harriet buttoned "Mr. Carter, there Is Just one thing! gone driving," she said. "She may be woman, in her homely way. The girl a cuff, to hide a dimple that Of course," Harriet's cheeks had In at any moment, but before she Farmer stirred the fire and settled herself to would come to the corner of her flamed, "of course, this marriage of comes, I want to speak to you. We've Match it. I mouth. "And Mrs. Tabor came, and ours is not the usual marriage, and had terrible news here, Mrs. Tabor. After what? WelL certainly not would have stayed," she could not resist yet, there is just one thing of which I Mr. Carter is coming home to tell the after anything so snort, simple and the temptation to add, "but I persuaded would like to speak to you before we children and his mother tonight. Mr. unconvincing as that three minutes her that some other time would —we go up to Greenwich." And finding Pope cabled from Paris on Christmas with the clergyman today. The utter be better!" his gray eyes pleasantly fixed upon eve that Mrs. Carter suddenly died unreality of that had seemed to blend "Scene with Nina about It?" Richard her she had gone on, confused but determined that day!" with the silent, snowy day, and with had asked, eurlously. "I'm twenty-seven now— Ida Tabor never felt anything very the dulled and dreamy condition of "Nina was not here," Harriet answered. and perhaps I might have married deeply, but her emotions were accessible her own brain. Snow was falling And there was a faint smile some other man before this—except enough,, and violent while they softly when she had met Richard Carter This bank stands squarely behind all those things in the deep blue eyes that she raised that—when I was seventeen—I did lasted. She grew jvhite, gasped, somehow at the office, at half-past ten, and suddenly to his. fall in love with a man! And we reached a chair, and burst into which serve to ease the problems of rural life and snow lisped against the windows of "Ah, well, I knew, of course, that were to. be married—!" She had honest tears. Isabelle—! Why, they the limousine as they two, with you would manage it!" he said, contentedly. stopped short it was incredibly hard. promote the general welfare of the farmers. had been friends for years! Why, she Irving F9X, Richard'^ kindly, middleaged, "It seems black art to me. "He had—or I thought he had, brought confidential, clerk, were whirled had been so wonderfully well and" I had enough of it!" something tremendously big and wonderful strong! out of the city, and on and on through She smiled again, and went quietly Into my life," Harriet had continued, We're vitally concerned about poor yields, inade­ "Nobody knows it," Harriet said. the bare little wintry towns. Fox had to her place. But when he summoned "and I was a stupid little girl, some occa­ And not quite Innocently she added: had papers to which they just taking care of my sister's babies Ward and Nina to his mother's room, sionally referred the old clerk was "The Fordyces, the Bellamys—everyone quate market facilities, low prices, insufficient credits, after dinner, she had disappeared, and and reading my father's books—" who knew her—are in total Ignorance the only person to congratulate Harriet the family was quite alone when he "You are under no obligation to tell of It! If you do tell them, Mrs. warmly when the brief and bewildering me anything of this," Richard had broke the news to them. lack of transportation and every such problem affect­ business was over and she Tabor—and there is no reason why Harriet, presently needed again, said, kindly, far more concerned for had her wedding ring. It was alone you shouldn't—" was astonished at the emotion of the her distress than interested in what "Oh, I shall stay here with Nina tonight, with Fox that she made the return ing the farmer. she was saying. "I must have known old lady, who had been genuinely fond anyway!" the visitor said, decidedly. trip. Richard came back by train, of her daughter-in-law, and had always that- there were admirers! I assure saving an hour, and was at the office "She'll need me, of course! been loyal to Isabelle, as one of the you that—" when they got there. Harriet did not Poor little thing!" We want each farmer in this section, whether a Carters. Madam Carter was greatly "No, but just a moment!" Harriet "It seems too bad to spoil your New see him again he was in conference shaken, Nina hysterical. Ward aggrieved, had Interrupted him. "I was infatuated—I Year's plans," Harriet said, smiling, and presently she quietly got back Irritated at his own. feeling. knew that at once, God knows? customer of this bank or not, to know that we accept into the motorcar, and on her way to "but you know Nina! She will put He had not seen his mother for seven I've known it ever since! I went away meet Nina she slipped the plain circle those long arms of hers about you— months, she had brought nothing but with him, little fool that I was!". and she won't hear of your leaving .her of gold into her handbag. his problem as our own and offer him our help to sat­ A gleam of genuine surprise had a certain unpleasant notoriety to her for days! With Nina," Harriet pursued, She had it out tonight, and put it children, yet her death struck both the come into Richard Carter's eyes, and thoughtfully, "it isn't so much on her bare, pretty hand, and held it he locked at her without speaking, young creatures forcibly, and they felt isfactorily meet these conditions. that one can't find a good excuse, as to the fire, and slowly the events of shocked and shaken. "I was taken ill the day I left1 with that she won't hear of excuses at all! the bewildering and tiring d&y wheeled "We can't be in the Fordyce tableaux," him. While I was getting well I had I remember when Mrs. Carter first before her, and only the reality of the time to think it over. I knew then I said Nina in an Interval between went away/ there were days of itweeks ring assured her that it was not all a floods of sobs. "Not that I was too young and too Ignorant to be of it!—just talk, tears, and talk confused dream. Married! And all any man's wife. I was frightened and would w^nt to, now! But I don't —my arm used to ache from the weight alone before the glowing coals, weary I—well, I ran away' I went back to know It seems to me that I am the First National Bank of Nina's arm! Mr. Carter intends to from hostile encounters, en her marriage v? ?n most unfortunate girl In the world I" my sister. Both she and her husband leave for Chicago tomorrow, Ward night! -r:? "I think both you and Ward should regarded me after that as in some way wlU probably go up to the Batons'—** She had intended to write to Linda marked, unprincipled, unworthy—" wear Mack for a certain period,** Rlchard Harriet rambled on, not unconscious tonight Linda was vexed with her, "Poor child!" Richard had said. said to her. He had been walking International Falls Minnesota that she was nuking an impression* and small wonder! For Harriet had the floor nervously, stopping now tad "They naturally would. You were no "Anyway," she flhlshed^**we shall be left the little New Jersey house almost more than Mina^ age!" then bealde the,great chair where hit W N|w' fearfully quiet and aloper here, and without-farewells, .had come i- 4K' mother sat silant and stricken, to gat *^8o that's my history/' Harriet had tigiji&i