Harriet and the Piper

the events of the past week. On the morning after Ward's departure for the Bellamys' camp she had come downstairs fee

r unmarried daughters constituted a chaperonage beyond all criticism. Isabelle Carter was giving and attending the usual luncheons and dinners, her husband absorbed in an especia

characteristic boyishness. They were having a corking time, there was nobody there as sweet as his girl was, and he hoped that she missed him a little bit. He wa

nest letter. She felt a thrill of genuine affection for the writer; he would never grow up to her, but she would make him an ideal wife none-the-less. She went about his father's home, in these days, with a secret happiness swelling in her heart. It would not be long now before the secretary a

conservative pages; but she said more in the double sheet of fine English handwriting than Ward had said in three times as much space. A charming letter is one of the fruits of loneliness and reading; Harr

ke to see her. Harriet glanced at a mirror; her brassy hair was as smoothly moulded as its tendency to curve and ring ever permitted, and she wore a thin

ooking tired and hot in rumpled white, Isabelle exquisite in silver lace, and young A

ed her dining alone with her infatuated admirer, but it appeared that Richard had driven his mother out from the city in time to join them for salad and c

roup before she sensed that something was wrong, and she had a moment's flutter of the heart

entered into the game with spirit. Richard's first words to her were

ield. Well, that doesn't seem

nd pleasantly, and Harriet felt herself acquitted of any apprehension in t

ot with her. She speculated, as she gathered in her tricks. Was it conceivable that Richard did not enjoy the discovery of the tete-a-tete dinner? But Isabelle had often been equally indiscreet, an

ot breeze. Harriet, the only interested player, was unfortunate with Tony, unfortunate with Isabelle. After three rubbers the game ended suddenly; Richard said he had some letters to write, and was keeping Fox waiting in the library; Anthony scribbled a check, said brief and unfriendly good-n

only to Harriet, and then in

y playing, my dear. I won't permit that! Twenty d

protection and of friendliness she had to concede the point. Immediately afterward he said good-night to his mother and wife, and went in to his study. Mada

eautiful breast, exposed in the low-cut silver gown, rose and fell stormily, and Harriet saw that she was biting her full under lip, as if anger seethed st

iscreetly to adjust chairs and to supervise

udoir together. Here Isabelle dropped into a chair, sitting sidewise, with one bare arm locked across its rococo back, and stared dully ahead

ver gown, and the brocaded stays were whisked away, and a cool, loose silk robe enveloped Isabelle, and she took a deep, cr

t creatu

ed toward the dressing r

breath of anger restrained, "I ask you

," Harriet murmured, as the

r. Carter acted. You saw him make me ridiculous--make a

k that!" Harriet

ngly. She fell into thought, and suddenly burst out, "Harriet, my

covered her face with her hands. Harriet saw the frail s

ot acting. "Mr. Carter only sees what I see," she added, "that it must stop. But I am afraid it will

sheet of paper,

t will be further than India, Isabelle, further than Rio or Alaska. While we two live, I must

to-night! Anthony Pope means it, Harriet--I know him well enough for that. His whole life is one thought of me. The flowers, the books, the notes--he only wakes in the morning to

hick, dark switch gone, Harriet was almost shocked by the change in the severely exposed forehead and face. Isabelle looked fully her age now, more than her age. But the younger woman knew that however honest her desire to disenchant

don't know quite what it is. But her heart is set on it. They seem to understand each other--I always felt that when Nina's affairs did begin, she would pick out freaks like this! But," Nina's mother sighed, resignedly, "that's all right. He's interesting, and everyone's after him, and if it pleases her-

d. And at the breakfast table next morning Harriet could show the head of the house the same bright assurance. Sh

asked he

er masseuse, so she won't be down. She asked you to remember that you

dding. "Jim Kelsoe an

in," the gi

th himself and his life. Harriet started for the Hawkes' with a philoso

would join them for luncheon. But just as she and Nina were about to enter the cool, wide, dark doorway, Anthony himself passed them. He was almost running, and apparently did not see them. He ran down the shallow steps and sprang into his car, which scattered a spr

-old memory told Harriet that they were lotus blooms. Another girl had had lotus blooms years ago; Harriet wondered if

s. Radiantly and amazedl

peaking of a poem called 'The Lotus Flower'. Did you ever? I think that is terribly decent of him, don't you? Shan't I write

and spoiling sheet after sheet of paper. But there was protection in Nina's absorption, too; she was far too happy to know or care that Harriet felt

one of the small closed cars to the side door. Five minutes later Isabelle, in a thin white coat, a veiled white hat, and with a gorgeous white-furred wrap over her arm, came

to give her daugh

isn't coming home to-night, but have a happy time w

Harriet said. That she had not been mistaken did not oc

am obliging an old friend?" Isabelle said, smoothly. "I shall be with Mrs. Webb in Great Barrington, H

d the silence that followed the noise of the car oddly ominous. She looked about nervously; Nina was drifting through Vanity Fai

an idle trip to the club, reporting that her son had just return

ick thrill of apprehension. Something abnormal see

n voice, as he came down the three broad steps from t

know where Hanse

"Will young Burke do? Mrs. Webb telephoned, and Mrs. Carter left in a hurry. She di

cious still of that odd fluttering of mind and soul, that presage of ill. She made her usual little round, spoke briefly to a maid about some fallen daisy petals, consulte

s expected. He disappeared into the library; Harriet saw no more of him for an hour, when

ng, and the old lady in good spirits. Nina, pleased at being downstairs, as she and Harriet usually were when her father and mother were not at home, or when there was no company, also contributed some shy remarks.

s into the library. Nina loitered up to bed, but the old lady and Harriet remained downstairs. They did not like,

at-topped desk, the man Williams standing somewhat in shadow.

ightened curiosity, did so, he began quietly: "We are in some trouble here, Miss Field. I hardly kno

did," Harri

nk of any re

nger a glance that ma

ted with--with what distresse

e looked down; was silent. "I asked him to help me,"

with a great light, or darkness, breaking in upon h

onsidered this, a

afterward Mrs.

ately. Not

he telephone call from

Williams, breaking in decidedly, his voice a contrast to Richard's hesitating tones. "As a matter of fact, H

y his manner, and feeling her cheeks get red. T

n," Richard supplied.

loded in the study. She turned white, looked toward Williams, whose mouth was pursed in a s

. "Mr. Pope had been getting ready for a cruise. The

was not supposed to come home until to-morrow night. I found Mrs. Carter's message at five, twenty-four hours ea

id Williams, wit

le, I leave the house in your care, Miss Field. I needn't tell you that my mother and Nina must be kept absolutely ignorant of what we suspect. You'll know what t

thing tired and patient in his tone,

n I can say," sh

ess, of course. But, please God, we can keep it all hushed up. She has Germaine with

n and Germaine, but he KNEW that he could trust her! The event was sensational enough, was

g away again?" s

nsult him about something," Harriet expla

. And immediately she added, suspic

ould have embraced the uninteresting elderly couple who entered smilingly. They beame

adame Carter explained, "and my son has one of his clerks h

, Doctor Houghton?" Harriet ventured. T

d chance, for I know Madame Carter i

chard Carter came to say good-night a few minutes later they were on the terrace, and hilarious over the beginner's mistakes. Even Madame Carter enjoyed t

is lips the cool old forehead, next to the white ha

Houghton, archly. "Yo

mur as he went: "I think he has a two heart bid, don