Harriet and the Piper

everely plain ruffles, and with a wide white hat on her thick, smoothly dressed hair. Miss Field, too, although she was very pale to-day, looked "simply gorgeous," as Isabelle expressed

false position; this was to be one of the times when s

ity at school, "of course I was awfully shy; you know me!" She was suddenly diverte

iet made herself s

me, and she said, 'It's an aristocratic face!' Amy Hawkes told me, for a trade last. The girls were wild--they were all so crazy to have her notice them, you know, and I thought--I thought of course she'd speak of Lucia or Ethel Benedict or one of those prettier girls; although," said Nina, with her l

er, presently, and the words that came so readily to Harriet would refuse to flow at all to any one else. She would come home saying that she hated parties bec

with the bright gowns of the first arrivals. They were early, and their hostess, a handsome, heavily built woman with corsets like armourplate under her exquisite gown, and a blonde ban

ndred people comin'," she confided as Harriet followed her across the lawn, and to the rather quiet corner of the awninged porch where the tea table stood, "and Mist' Jay just sent me a message that

et, that the woman really came of an excellent family, so that her little affectations, her fondness for the phrases "my older daughter, Morgan," and "lovely people, loads of money, you know them?" were honest enough, in their way. She would have loaned Harriet any amount of money, the girl reflected

spoons in order, and chatted with a hovering maid. Some elderly persons came out and sat near, and were grateful for the quiet and the tea.

tnam, Harriet used to think, with a little natural jealousy under her admiration, had everything. She was not pretty, but hers was a distinguished appearance and a lovely face; she had the self-possessed manner of a woman whose whole life

he tea table for a welcoming touch. "But how nice to find you here! I'm trying to get som

!" Harriet glance

I carry them a tray first? Harriet, you are prettier than ever. I love the gr

s hands were busy with cups and plates; now she nodded to a maid. "Mayn't Inga carry this to

y settled herself in t

he delightful voice upon which Harriet had modelled her own. "But L

dear!" Harriet

g look. The colour came into Harriet's lovely f

-for WARD?

tirred her te

ng, and you know him well, and you're-

et la

enty-two,"

you'r

twenty-seven

a man. Ward has fine stuff in him," she added, "and also, I think, he is beginn

e fragrance and sunshine of the summer. She saw a ring, laughter and congrat

tone. "They are really very simple, and always good to me! Bu

. Putnam said. "Well, it just occurred to me. It is your affair, of course. But looking

he confusion and happiness that this unusual mood of conf

acious way. Harriet hardly heard the bustle and confusion about her for a few minutes. She sat

had begun with the familiar and puzzling humiliations, but where it was t

manage young men. And then Harry and Lettice had in some manner communicated with each other, for Lettice had jumped up suddenly, saying, "Nina, will you excuse us? We'll be back directly," and they had wandered off in the direction o

suddenly took the seat beside her. Nina's heart gave a plunge, for if she was ill at ease with "kids" like Harry and Jo

but there were too many young men around you then for me to get a word in! However,

ave one fleeting upward glance

she tried to say. But everything after the first th

and out of her element, among all these shallow chatterers and gigglers, I'm mistaken!' I saw the lads gather about you, and I had m

ured a co

f me, are you? My dear little girl, I'm old enough to be your father! Look up--I want

her expected me t

t the wedding! But in the meantime, Mother mustn't blame someone who has just a LITTLE more discernment than--well, young Brevoort, for example, for see

tammered, with a li

do! And you don't want to fall in love with

her, and his arm, laid carelessly along the back of the green bench, almost touched the white ruffles. They were in full sight of the house, too

--what?" He ben

ated, looking down in her overwhelming self-consciousne

was silent--she had somehow said the awkward

n had squared himself about, and had folded

derstand the cosmic secret--why your soul reaches out to mine--why I not only want to know you better, but why it is my solemn obligation to take the exquisite thing your coming into my life may mean to us both! You're only a child," he went on, in a

said, clearing her thro

bitter a few hours ago. And then I saw you, just an honest, brave, bewildered little girl, wonderi

tening head, the eyes that smiled so close to her own. "But if I tell Mother that, she thinks I'm crazy!" she

el," interpreted the man, smilingly.

ays been a rebel, th

in conceded, sadly. "And it doesn't make f

as not wearing her glasses to-day, and hers were fine eyes, alb

e exactly like all the other girls, flirting and dressing, and rushing about all day and all night! But oh--how I hate it!

ed upon her a look that Nina was to remember with a thrill in the waking hours of the summer night--"and yet, is it

elf, as if he thought alo

hinking, they'd go crazy! 'Oh, isn't the floor lovely--isn't the music d

a society girl's tone and manner, but Roy

said. "You're a

she resumed, going back to the more serious topic. "I envy Ward! He is just as different from me as black and white. Now Ward likes everyone--and everyone lik

!" Blondin sai

laugh and flirt just as if that was the only thing in life! If people want to think I am a butterfly,

s fixed steadily upon her, and flush

ng man comes to claim you, why, I'll resign my little friend with all the good will in the world. But meanwhile, am I going to pick you out some books, am I going to have some talks as wonderful as this one now and then? No--not as wonderful, for of course

wn!" fluttered Nina. "But, no--we'r

lf-hour, paying attentions to Mother's poky friends with a sparkle and charm that amazed them. Presently Ward and the demure Amy Hawkes found her; the car was wait

wls from his superior altitude, if they knew why Miss Harriet had decided to walk. They star