FULTON CO. TRIItrXE, WAX SEOS, TirrRSPAY, APRIL c,
ILJl J " rr if "JLi t II
praflinif i m y aging audHskis 3
l have planned a racatlon trip to s; & 1 1 ?5fV Ir'fJ'.TT"! SGd&M I
l Alaska this summer. According F- f - IVf FALf V L - ItV $V ll 7 1
I to tentative plans made long In oW 1 ' $ V Z V v J M WMtl I
LT-, advance they will leave Washing- f ' t ' TJ fefW- 'T ' 1 7 lliXU
rn : Vjf iff
r - I i;rH'IM?IH"MMHllH!tlHmHHIi;HI'IIIH?iM'imHli';i:
and
By KATHLEEN NORRIS
Copyright by Kathleen NonU
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HE President and Mrs. Harding
have planned a vacation trip to
' Alaska this summer. According
to tentative plans made long in
advance they will leave Washing
ton In June and will not return
until about the middle of Septem
ber. It's quite a Journey, you
know, from Washington to Alaska
and back and there are reasons
why the President wants a month j
or more to look around in the
Land of the Midnight Sun.
. According to the original plans, the presidential
party will go by special train to the Pacific coast,
probubly aHghtlng at San Francisco. Seattle will
be a port of call. Thence the route will be through
the Inner Passage and on to Alaska. Presumably
Juneau, the territorial capital, will be visited. Ac
cess to the government railroad, now practically
completed, can be had either at Seward, its south
ern terminus, or at Anchorage, on Cook Inlet. The
road runs from Seward straight north to Fair
banks, about 460 miles. Mayflower, the presiden
tial yacht, Is likely to be sent through the Panama
canal to be of service somewhere along the- coast.
A wonderful vacation trip, worth, the while even
of the President of the United States of America !
And the President is known to be a lover of the
beautiful and majestic In nature and a loyal friend
of our national parks and of such scenic enter
prises as th National Park-to-Park highway. In
cidentally an effort is being made to get the Presi
dent to visit on this trip one or more of the nation
al parks and the proposed "President's Forest,"
on the North Rim of the Grand canyon.
In Alaska "The Frozen North" we used to
call it the President will have a chance to see
various things that are far out of the ordinary.
There Isn't space here to catalogue them, but here
are a few that any man would be glad to see:
At Ketchikan a stream plunges through the cen
ter of the town. And In the stream Is a salmon-run
where millions of salmon are to be seen making
Incredible leaps to ascend the rapids.
Juneau Is the Alaskan capital. There the Presi
dent can take an automobile and drive 11 miles
right to the edge of Mendenhall glacier. It'll be
summer weather. He can pick flowers by the
way. He'll see vegetable gardens, strawberry beds "
and wheat fields surrounded by giant forests and
overtopped by peaks white with everlasting snow. -t'Sf
course the President will strike somewhere
the Tukon one Of the great rivers of the world
and grandly scenic for the greater part of Its 2,300 '
miles.
f The President is likely to run across a big herd
of reindeer anywhere from Point Barrow to the
Alaskan peninsula. There are now about 225,000
f these "Camels of the Frozen North." One of
these days we are likely to be eating reindeer meat
Instead of beef; several thousand carcasses are
to be shipped In from Nome this year.
The seal rookeries on the Prlbilof islands should
be worth seeing ; there were 552,718 of these curi
ous animals according to the seal census of 1920,
and they are Increasing, although Uncle Sam takes
more than 25,000 skins a year. '
It is to be hoped that the President visits the
new Katmal National monument "The Valley of
Ten Thousand Smokes." Katmal volcano on the
Alaskan peniusula blew Its head off during three
days In June of 1912, covering all Alaska with a .
thick "coating of dust. The explosion left a crater
3,500 feet deep and eight miles around, with a lake
at the bottom. Close by Is a valley several miles
Ions, from which are shooting up thousands of
steam Jets, some of them a thousand feet high.
It -is a sample of earth in the making, Some day
these steam Jets may cool off enough to become ,
geysers, like those of the Yellowstone. In the
' meantime, cooking is easy In Katmal!
If the President travels on the government rnll- '
' road to the gap In tne steel he will have a glorious y
view of Mount McKlnley, one of the great moun-.
tains of the world and the central feature of the
2.200 square miles of Mount McKlnley National
park. It risen 20,300 feet above sea level and Is
most impressive. It Is a wonderful preserve of
Alaskan wild ame caribou, bighorn moose, deer
and bear which live and breed there in Immense
numbers. At present this park Is Inaccessible, but
the government railroad will touch the new east
boundary line established by a recent act of con
gress. Then there will be a rush of tourists very
few of whom will reach Mount McKlnley's glacier
covered summit.
So Alaska has the makings of a mighty Interest,
ing vacation trip for the President and his party.
But don't get the Idea that the President's trip
Is wholly and solely a vacation pleasure trip. For
the truth is that it is a combination of pleasure
and business; If It breaks flfty-flfty, the pleasure
angle Is In luck. For Alaska Is one of the admin
istration's "problems." And the President Is re
ported to think the Alaskan problem important
enough to warrant Awt-hand information.
Secretary Albert B. Fall of the Interior depart
ment, according to the tentative plans, is to ac
company the President. Under the circumstances
that Is to be expected.
The Alaskan problem is one of many ramifica
tions. The basic fact aronnd which the various
phases of the problem revolve is put in a nutshell
by the question, "What's the matter with Alaska?"
"Too much government by too many bureaus
too far away," Is one of the many answers to the
question. Though Alaska has a governor (Scott
C. Bone) and a legislature and a territorial dele
gate to congress (Dan A. Sutherland), It Is real
ly governed by Washington bureaus and apparent
ly almost every executive department has a hand
in that government.
You see, nearly all of Alaska's natural resources
Are directly or indirectly controlled by the federal
government. About 99 per cent of the land is still
in government ownership. Coal and oil develop
ment is under ' government leases. ' Water power
and fisheries and timber are under federal control.
.And the activities of the many bureaus of the
several departments dovetail, overlap and conflict
in a bewildering tangle. Owing to the divided au
thority and the limitations of statutes and ap
propriations, there would be mlxup, even were
co-operation the watchword of all concerned.
As the -result Alaska has not been doing well.,
The population has fallen off. The commerce has
decreased. The country Is not being developed.
The fisheries are not prospering. The postoffice
department can hardly be said to function. Ocean
transportation is Inadequate and costly. With oil
and coal of her own Alaska is importing both.
Various plans have been proposed for Alaska's
relief. A number of bills has been introduced in
congress. One bill would put the administration
Into the hands of an Alaskan development board.
Another would give the President authority to re
organize all federal activities.
The Interior department has many activities in
the governingof Alaska. It is Secretary Fall's
Idea that the way to dCelop Alaska Is to vest ab
solute authority In the'President and to concen
trate In the Interior department all functions per
taining to the development and use of natural re
sources and to construction work.
Of course this idea Is not at all pleasing to many
officials of bureaus In other departments.
Then there Is another proposition which compli
cates the political phases of the situation: Th
proposed reorganization of all the executive depart
ments. This reorganization would regroup the
various bureau activities and bring about a whole
sale transfer of bureaus among the departments.
One contemplated transfer under this reorganiza
tion is that of the forest service in charge of the
national forest from the Agricultural department
to the Interior department.
The "Agricultural department is fighting this
proposed transfer. Its Btake In Alaska is the
Tongass and Chugach National forests, containing
20,000,000 acres.
The latest authoritative facts as to the Alaskan
situation are contained in the report of Secretary
Fall of the Interior department for the fiscal year
"NO, NO, NO!"
SynopslH. Harriet Field, twenty
eight yen.rs old. and beautiful, is
the social secretary of the flirta
tious Mrs. Isabel Carter, at
"Crownlands." Richard Carter's
home, and governess of seventeen-year-old
Nina Carter. Ward, twenty-four
years old and Impression
able, fancies himself In love with
his mother's attractive secretary.
Mrs. Carter's latest "affair" Is with
young Anthony Pope, and the
youth Is taking It very seriously.
Presiding over the teaeups this
summer afternoon, Harriet Is pro
foundly disturbed by the arrival of
a visitor. Royal Blondin. Next
day. at a tea- party In the city.
Blondin makes himself agreeable
to Nina, and leaves a deep impres
sion on the unsophisticated glrL
Harriet's agitation over the appear
ance of Blondin at "Crownlands"
is explained by the fact that he
had been a disturbing element In
her life ten years before and she
fears him. The man Is an avowed
adventurer, living on the gullibility
of the Idle rich. He frankly an
nounces to Harriet his intention of
marrying Nina, and urges her to
aid him. She Is In a sense fn his
power, and after pleading with him
to abandon his scheme agrees to
follow a policy of neutrality.
Knowing the tender feeling she has
Inspired In Ward Carter, Harriet
Is tempted to marry him for the
position and wealth he can give
her, though realizing she does not
love him. Blondin ha Ingratiated
himself with Madame Carter, Rich
ard's mother, and she Is whole
heartedly in favor of his marriage
with Nina. Ward urges Harriet to
marry him. She procrastinates.
Mrs. Carter elope- with Pope. Blon
din threatens Harriet. She prays
to do what Is right. Blondin and
-Harriet agree to keep silent about
their past relations. Richard Car
ter proposes a marriage, entirely
businesslike, to take place as soon
as he Is divorced. Harriet says
"No."' and goes to visit her sister.
ending June 30, 1921. He goes Into detail and says
generally, among other things:
"The report of the governor for the fiscal year
ended June 30, 1921, emphasizes, as the paramount
need of Alaska, liberalized laws and more flex
ible rules and regulations thereunder, with a con
centration of authority and responsibility and an
administration co-ordinated and brought closer
home. Capital and people are required to develop
the resources of the territory and until It is made
easier for these two necessary factors to obtain
a foothold the territory will not progress. The
difficulties of administration are great owing to
distances and inadequate transportation and mail
facilities. Under the present long-range system of
government individual Initiative has been halted
and the pioneer spirit maimed. To promote effi
ciency by minimizing relays, the governor earnest
ly recommends that the administration be cen
tralized at Juneau, the territorial capital, to the
fullest extent possible, while governmental super
vision Is maintained at Washington. To further
this end, after he proposed consolidation of bureaus
under one departmental ead, he suggests that
each essential bureau station a representative at
Juneau, empowered to act upon all matters not
affecting public policy. Obstructions met by cap
ital seeking investment and by people in quest of
homesteads have been lessened somewhat In re
cent years, but by no means removed ; both capital
and people, it is urged, are entitled to a fairer
chance than they have ever had In the past.
"In conclusion, the governor submits the follow
ing recommendations:
"A eo-ordlnated and simplified system of gov
ernment, with bureaus having Jurisdiction In Alas
ka consolidated under one departmental head at
Washington.
The stationing at Juneau of an authorized agent
ot each essential bureau exercising administra
tive functions In Alaska with power to act upon
matters not affecting federal policy.
"A centralization of executive and admlnistra;
tlve business in Alaska to the fullest extent con
sistent with continued governmental supervision.
An appropriation of $300,000 to supplement the
fund of $155,000 now available for the purpose of
constructing an administrative and executive build
ing at Juneau on ground wned by the government
and to provide quarters therein for the territorial
legislature and the Alaska historical library and
museum.
"Liberal mining and land laws framed to meet
distinctive and divergent conditions In Alaska and
regulations under such laws that will ted to stim
ulate enterprise and encourage settlement.
"A colonization plan to be worked out In con
junction with the operation of the government rail
road to bring under cultivation the vast area of ag
ricultural land in the interior.
"Improved transportation facilities and more
equitable freight rates, through private enterprise,
if obtainable, and under governmental regulation
and control; or, as an alternative, through the
operation of vessels of the United States shipping
board and the establishment of a mosquito fleet
to meet local needs.
"More liberal mail subsidies to enable the post
office department to function In Alaska and thus
aid In the solution of transportation problems.
"Continued conservation and safeguarding of
the fisheries of Alaska.
"Uninterrupted construction of roads and trails
throughout the territory and necessary appropria
tions to carry forward the comprehensive plans
of the Alaska road commissi6n, working In co-operation
with the territorial road commission ; and
the transfer of the work In the territory of the
bureau of public roads to the Alaska road comr
mission as a further step toward co-ordinationy
efficiency and economy.
"Allotment of a fair percentage, at least one-
half, of the net revenues derived from the Pribilof
islands, which are In Alaskan waters, to the gen
eral, fund of the territory.
"More specific recommendations are not made
because of the conviction thnt a co-ordinated sys
tem of government will facilitate the solution of
many important territorial problems and the ad
justment of collateral questions and issues."
GIVEN MORE THAN HER SHARE
.
Old Montenegrin Legend Explains the
Fact That So Much of Her Land
I Worthless.
JloniPiiesro. neiir the Adriatic const,
J largely composed of jagged, tum
b'ln?, barren- mountain mages. They
ore desolate masses of ash-gray or
very durk-gray rock on which there
are no trees, no patches of earth and
apparently no growing thing whatever.
Montenegrin iegend has It that Stu-day Inning Post E
things in It were distributed by the ears ,Is mot,ef nnt"
.,... ..tl,..,i ,.c fli enough to escape from he
I little country, completely covering it.
j This Is Montenegro's pet legend,
writes Kenneth L. Roberts, in the
Everv Monte-
ed Into his
he Is old
devil. He distributed the rocks, flying i l '-. ,i
over the earth id dropping them from I nctunry In the mountains ne gets
. ... 1 the vnrn from lnnlceeners. tnirhojtt pn-
a great sack, wnen lie mw out wun i ,- , ,.
Ills last load there were still a num
ber of countries that were unroc-ked ; j
hut just as he got over Montenegro the j
bottom of the sack burst open and the A hahy whale was killed on a sand
entire load of rocks fell down on that l bar in New York harbor recently.
gineers. relief worl-ers.. waiters, ban
dits and school children.
Colors That Stimulate.
It Is worth while to know that some
colors are stimulants nnd some are
anodvnes, and to proceed accordingly
In matters of decoration and clothing.
It is probably well to follow nature,
and to make green and blue the only
bright colors that are used In larse
musses. If red is used it should be
merely a touch here and there. Such
a touch of red is undoubtedly pleas- !
ing. nnd probably healthful so mug as
it is not larse enough to force itself
upon the eye.
, origina, Pet, W ATTERSON PLAYED WITH PATH
Lowell was as shrewd as usual when
he asserted that "if a poet resolve to (
be original. It will end commonly In Reminiscence Proves That "Marse
Henry cany uave tviaence oi
his being peculiar." Ana even Tr.e
youngest of poets ought to be able to
Belze the difference between originality
and pecullority.
It was not by straining for peculiarity
that Milton made himself one of th
More Than Ordinary Talent.
Among his childhood companions
was Adelina Pattl. Once when he was
twelve years old, and Adelina nine.
most original of English poets, but hj j they played together pt a ' charity
on "Home, Sweet Home." The audi
ence was enthusiastic ond the two
children came out again. This time
he improvised an accompaniment to
"The Old Folks at Home," which
Adelina sang, and the applause nearly
raised the roof. Years later when
Christine Nilsson was at the heinht of
iinitntinn nf that one of concert" n Washlnfclon. She sang ; her success at tne 'I nearer i.yrique, in
riwiiiwawira hom he most admlrea. I "The Last Rose of 'Summer" and he Paris. AVntrerson told her the time
.... , c .i i I r.l.,,FA.-l hap hrntl.or-ln-ln vvs vi
ing concerts. She was Indignant at the
suggestion, but he said to her: "Nev
ertheless, let me teach you a sure en
core." He played her Stephen Fos
ter's Immortal ditty. She was delighted
with It, and as he remarks in his
memoirs. "The sequel was that It
served her an even better turn than
it had served Adelina Pattl." New
York World.
Milwaukee Sentinel.
ulayed her brother-in-law's variations would come when she would be giv-
Kentucky has 65 women managers
and superintendents or manufacturing
establishments.
CHAPTER X.
. : 9--
There was trouble at Linda's house ;
trouble so terrible that Harriet's unex
pected arrival caused no comment,
caused no jnore tlfan a weary flicker
of Linda's heavy eyes. Pip. the adored
first-born son, lay dangerously ill, and
the whole household moved on tiptoe,
heartsick with,, dread. It was diph
theria, very bad, Fred stated lifelessly.
Linda hardly left tie room ; they were
afraid for her, too. "If anything hap
pened." "If" anything happened !"
Harriet thought she had heard the
phrase a hundred times before the
dreadful night came.
She had taken Linda's place for an
hour, but before it was up the mother
came back, and they kept their vigil
together. Fred answered the strange,
untimely ringing of the doorbell,
brought In packages, conferred In the
halls with the doctors. Midnight
came, two o'clock, four o'clock. .,
'Suddenly there was panic. Har
riet, by chance in the hall, saw Linda
and Fred and the doctors together,
heard Linda's quick, anguished "Yes V
and Fred's "Anything !" Her heart
pounded; the nurse ran upstairs. Har
riet fell upon her knees with a sob
bing whisper, "No no no!" and Lin
da clung to her husband with a cry
torn from the deeps of her heart, "Oh,
Pip my own boy!"
Dawn came slowly and reluctantly
at seven ; the village lay bleak and
closed under a sky of unbroken gray.
Here and there smoke streamed up
ward from a chimney, or a window-
pane showed an oblong of pale light.
Harriet put out the light that was
becoming unnecessary. But her heart
was - singing for joy, and the house
was brimful of an Inner light and
cheer that no winter bleakness could
touch. The girl had been crying until
she was almost blind, but it was a cry
ing mixed with laughter and prayers
of utter thankfulness.
She met Linda at the door, a weary
Linda, ghastly as11 to face, grayer as
to straggling hair, but with such-radi
ance in her eyes that Harriet, clasped
In her arms, began to cry again.
Oh, Harriet If I can ever thank
God enough !" Pip's mother said, be
ginning on her breakfast with one long
sigh. -"Oh, my dear ! He's sleeping
like a baby, God bless him, and dear
old Fred is sleeping, too. Oh, Harriet,
to go about the house, as I just have.
covering Nammy and the girls, and
feeling that we're all going' to be
happy together again. In a few .days
my dear. I don't know what I've done
to be so blessed! My boy, who has
never given anyone a moment's care
or trouble since he was born my dar
ling,, who looked up at me yesterday
with nis beautiful eyes
The floodgates were loosed, and
Linda laughed and cried, while she
enjoyed her breakfast with the appe
tite of a normal woman released from
cruel strain, whose whole brood lies
rifely sleeping under her roof. Nam-
my's light Illness. Pip's wet feet, Lin
da's unwillingness to believe that It
was anything but a cold, every hour
of the four awful days of danger, she
reviewed them all. And oh, the good
ness of people, the solicitude of nurse
and doctor, the generosity of God !
i
It was the afternoon of theaiext day
when Harriet could first speak of her
own affairs. Linda listened, over her
mending, nodded, pursed her lips, or
raised her eyebrows.
If Linda might ever have been
worldly minded, she had had her les
son now, and the viewpoint she gave
Harriet was the lofty one of a wom
an who has faced a supreme sacrifice
without shrinking and with unwaver
ing faith.
"You did right, dear." she assured
her sister. "You could not stay there,
under the circumstances. Whatever
their code is, yours is different, yours
i has not been vitiated by luxury and
idleness. As for Mr. Carter's talk
marriage, that, of course, is simply an
Insult !"
"No, I don't think it was that," Har
riet said, feeling herself revolt inward
ly at this plain speaking.
"I don't see what else It could be,
Linda pursued, serenely. "A married
man you would be no better than his
well, It's not a nice word but his
mistress!"
"Not at ail," Harriet said, trying
hard to hide the irritation that rose
rebellious within her, "he is legally
free, or will be soon, nnd so am I!"
"I am speaking of God's law, not
man's." Linda said, gently but awfully,
and Harriet was silent. "Fred says
hat such men regard these matters
far too lightly," Linda finished. Fred's.
name, thus introduced, always had the
effect of angering Harriet. She had
shared the family exaltation over Pip's
recovery, and hud thought more than
once In that fearful night of his illness
that even poverty, gray hairs and the
agony of parenthood, shared with the
man she loved, would have been ec
stasy to her. But In the slow days
and weeks that followed, her spirit
became exhausted with the struggle
that never ended within her. Her
bridges were burned behind her; it
was all over. Whatever her emotions
had been in leaving Crownlands, the
Carters' feelings had been quite obvi
ous and simple. Old Madame Carter
had wished her well ; Ward had writ
ten from college that he thought It
was "rotten," and that she had been
corker to get Dad to raise his al
lowance for him ; Nina had felt her
own wings the stronger for the
change; and Richard had Interrupted
his little speech of regret to answer
the telephone, and had given her a
check that placed. It seemed to Har
riet, the obligation permanently with
her. The utter desolation of spirit
with which she had left them was evi
dently unshared ; the only word she
had had from that old life had been
from Mary Putnam, and even this cor
dial note jarred Harriet with its frank
revelation of the change In her posi
"I can't keep this up !" she told her
self, playing games with little conva
lescent Pip, walking over frozen roads
with the girls, reading under the eve
ning lamp. "I can't keep this up!
Twenty-seven, and a governess, and
in love with a married man who does
not know I am alive!" summarized
Harriet, bitterly. "I will simply have
to forget it, and begin again, that's
all!" ,
And she meditated upon David, the
excellent, steady, deVoted David, who
was Fred's' brother and a dentist In
Brooklyn, and who -gave the children
wonderful holidays at Asbury Park.
It would make Linda and Fred very
happy to have her change toward
him: they were a little hurt and si
lent about David. He always went
with them to the crowded beach where
they spent July and August, had had
a cur this year, Linda told her sister,
and had been "so popular."
David was there, Christmas day, and
there was a fire and a tree, happy chil
dren everywhere, rosy little "neighbors
coming in to see the toys, snowy wef
garments- spread on the- porch after
church. David took Harriet walking
Harriet, His Arm Was About Her
Now, His Voice Close to Her Ear,
"Don't Let Those Years With Rich
People Spoil You for the .Real
Thing, Dear."
in . the fresh cold air, a Harriet so
beautiful in her furry hat and long
coat, with her brilliant cheeks and her
blue eyes shining under a blown film
of golden hair, that Linda, p he
basted the turkey in the hot kitctteii,
couldn't help a little prayer that that
would all come out "right."
'But, Davy dear!" Harriet and
David had stopped short in the exqui
site, silent woods, "There is a feel
ing a something that makes marriage
right! And I haven't it, that's all!"
'How do you know yon haven't?"
he said, smiling. "Harriet, if once
you said yeu would, it would come.
Harriet, his arm was about her now,
his voice close to her ear, "don't let
those years with rich people spoil you
for the real thing, dear!"
She looked up at him, with some
thing wistful In her blue eyes. In
stantly she saw leap to his face the
look lie had hidden so many years;
she heard a new ring In his voice.
"Ah you darling! You will? You'll
let me tell them?"
"No, no, no!" Half-angry, half
sorry, she put away his embrace. "I'll
Davy, I hate to spoil your Christ
mas day I don't know what to say!
I'll think about it!"
She turned to go home. Her heart
was lead within her.
"I suppose there's no help for It."
she thought, in a panic. "Linda'U
see it'll all be out rn five seconds '"
But Linda met them at the door, full
of an announcement.
"Harriet, Mr. Carter is here!"
"Mr. who?"
Back came the tide with a great
rush, nothing else mattered. For a
moment Harriet was turned to stone.
Then In a dream of radiance and de
light she went into the little parlor,
and Richard Carter stood up to greet
her, and there was nobody else In the
world. Linda had introduced herself;
David was introduced. Harriet glanced
about helplessly; he had not come
here to say "Merry Christinas," surely.
"I suggested that Hansen take .the
little people for a five-minutes' drive,"
he explained, "and then I shall have
to hurry back. I wanted to speak to
you on a matter of business. Miss
Field. I wonder--since you're well
wrapped if we might walk to the cor
ner and meet them; I'll only steal you
from your family for five minutes."
"Certainly !" Harriet's heart was
singing. She was hardly conscious of
what he snid; it was enough that hp
had sought her out, thnt she was to
have one more word with him
I came here to discuss my own
plans. Miss Field," he said at the gate.
but a hint from your sister has made
me fear that perhaps I am too late.
She tells me that you may be making
plans of your own."
"David?" Harriet said, resentfully.
I have no plans with David!" she
said, simply.
"I didn't know," Richard answered
I came to ask you to come back.
Things are in an absolute mess with
us. We have not had a serene moment
since you left us three weeks ago."
To go back back "to Crownlands!
Harriet's spirit soared. She knew she
must go back ! She had only despaired
of their ever needing her again. Every
fiber of her being strained toward the
old life.
"Linda, my sister, thinks It Would
be unwise," she began. The mah in
terrupted her. ,
There has been a new turn of
events. Miss Field. I had some Infor
mation lust night which may make a
difference," he said, gravely. "I re
ceived a wire from Pope, in France.
My wife Isabelle died on an operat
ing table yesterday afternoon, in
Paris."
Harriet, stupefied, could only look
at him fixedly for a long minute. ' Her
lips parted, but she did not speak.
Died?" she whispered sharply. The
man nodded without speaking. "But
but what was It?" Harriet said.
For answer he gave' tier the crum
pled cable, with the bare statement of
fact. She read it dazedly,- looked at
his somber face, and read it again.
I can't believe it !" she said.
Well, now," Richard began present
ly In a different tone, ''we are, as I
said, Miss Field, in a mess. I haven't
told the children this; they have a lot
of young people there over Christmas.
My mother .and Nina are planning
some entertainment for New Year's
night, and I suppose this will end all
that; I should suppose that Nina and
her brother must have a period of
mourning. I uiu deeply involved in a
big project In Brazil, committee meet
ings ail through January I can't
swing It, that's all.
Now, when we last talked of the
subject together." Richard pursued In
a businesslike way, "you objected to
the suggestion of a murriage, because
my wife was then still alive. Am I
correct?"
"Yes, that's correct!" Harriet said.
voicelessly. She felt herself beginning
to tremble..
"My purpose In coming today was
to suggest that. If that was your sole
objection," the man continued, pains
takingly, "you might feel the situation
changed now. I need you. We ail do.
If it is my mother who makes It im
possible, or some other thing that I
cannot change why, I must get along
as best I can. But ray proposition Is
that you and I are quietly married
tomorrow; you come back tomorrow
night and announce It whenever you
see fit. I may seem a little matter-of-fact
about this. Miss Field, but I am
hoping you understand. I am making
you an unsentimental business 'offer.
I need you In my life and I offer you
certain advantages which It would be
silly and schooiboyisli for me to deny
I possess. I have a certain standing
in the community which even Mrs.
Carter's madness has not seemed to
impair seriously. The boy and the
girl both love you, and" you have my
warmest friendship. Your position In
my household will be as free and in
dependent as was Isabelle's. I do not
know whether you will consider this
a fair return for what I ask, for after
all you are giving your services for
life to the Carter household
"Now. this Is of course entirely sub
ject to what pleases you In the mat
ter," he broke oft, to say, emphatically,
"I merely throw It out as a sugges
tion. It would please me very much.
I would draw a long breath of relief
to have it settled. Mrs. Tabor is
there stays there; takes the head of
my table. I spent last night at the
club ; I had cabled Pope and expected
an answer, but my mother telephoned
me at three o'clock this morning to
say that Ward and some of his friends
had . gone out ice-skating. Ward's
been dropped from his university.
can't- have that sort of thing, you
know !" '
"When did you want me?" Harriet
brought her beautiful eyes back from
some far vista.
"I thought that If you could meet
me at my office tomorrow I would
have all the arrangements made,
Nina Is to be at the Hawkes'; I send
the car for her at three. I thought
that you and she could go home to
gether to Crownlands. I'll have to be
in town that night."
HHome to Crownlands!" Suddenly
Harriet's Hp quivered and her eyes
brimmed with tears. "I'll be very
glad to go back," she said In a low
voice.
"Good!" he said. "I needn't tell
you how I feel about It ; It helps "me
out tremendously. Now, about tomor
row, how would you like that to be?"
"Well." she laughed desperately
throuch her tears. "We're Church of
England!" She laughed asain when
he took oA his notebook and wrote
the words down.
."Once It's done," he said, reassur
ingly, "you'll see my mother and all
the rest of them come Into line! It
puts you In a definite position, and
although I may seem to be rushing and
confusing vou now, there is a more
peaceful time to come we'll hope!'
he added grimly. "Here's Hansen
now. Lovely children," he added, of
the voung Davenports and some inti
mates who were tumbling out of the
car, "k'vely mother."
"You'll not speak of this yet?" Har
riet said, suddenly thinking of David
and Linda. "My sister might think
it lacked deliberation so close upon
Mrs. Carter's death. I'.d rather have
a little time,, get things straightened
out"
"Oh, certainly certainly!" She
could see he was relieved, was In
deed In cheerful spirits, as he gave
his furred hand to the chlldrens mlt
tened ones. They thanked him shrilly
and Hansen smiled warmly upon Har
riet as he touched his cap. Then they
were gone. Linda, watching from the
window, thought that the chauffeur's
obvious respect for Harriet was rather
impressive. She came to the porch,
and Richard" waved his farewell to
them en masse.
"lie's very nice," said Linda. "Poor
I'IMII'Hiiim; j ,ellow, ne' probuhiy would have had
all entirely omerein inurui iroue, ir
his life had been different!" Harriet
inwardly writhed, but she did not stir
in the sisterly embrace of LltAla's
n rin.
At three o'clock the next afternoon
Nina Carter, leaving the Hawkes' man
sion in New York city, with a great
many laughing fare-wellsdescended to
her father's waiting car and discov
ered, sitting therein, an extremely
handsome young woman, furred and
trimly veiled, and deep in pleasant
conversation with Hansen.
"Miss Harriet!" Nina ejaculated In
a tone that betrayed a vague resent
ment as well as a definite surprise.
"Nina, dear!" Harriet accepted
Nina's kiss warmly. "Are yon glad
to see me?" And as Nina! stumbled
In and established herself, Harriet
continued easily: "Your father and
I had a talk, my dear, and he sug
gested that I come back for a while.
So Hansen picked me up at the office
and here I am ! He tried to telephone
you, I know, but you were out. And
now," said Harriet, glancing at her
wrist watch, "I think we will go right
home, please. Hansen!"
Nina haa been her own 'mistress
for several delicious weeks, and to
have uny sort of restriction again was
very unpalatable to her. She sulked5
u 13 the way home and Madame Carter,,
meeting them at Crownlands, gazed!
rathej; stonily at the newcomer, grant
ing her only the briefest greeting. But,,
oh, how homelike and welcoming the
beautiful place, mantled In snow,
looked to Harriet's eyes. The snap
ping fires, the warmth and fragrance
of the big rooms and the very obvious
welcome of the maids-, all were en
chanting to her. Her first duty was
to make a brief tour below stairs, af
ter which she went up to- her own
room.
When they returned from Hunting
ton in the fall, she and Nina, at Rich
ard's suggestion, had taken Isabelle's
handsome rooms, turning both into
bedrooms and sharing the dressing
rooms and bath that joined them. It
was here that Harriet found Nina
awaiting her, still with her hat on
and loitering . with - obvious discomfi
ture. ,
Miss Harriet!" Nina said with a
rush. "You are so sweet about things
lik.e this, I wonder if you will mind
taking the yellow guest room it's i
really much larger and leaving this
room? You see, when I have friend! "
Harriet, at the dressing table, had
raised her hands to remove her hnt.
Like any general, she realized the
crisis of the apparently unimportant
moment and met it by Instinct.
But yoa have an extra bed, besides
the couchrv,ln your room, Nina 1"
Nina cleared her throat, threw back
her head, regarded Harriet between
half-closed eyelids in a manner Harriet
realized was new, and drawled:
I know. But if you would be bo
very kind ?"
Do you know, I'm afraid I shan t be
so very kind!" Harriet said, briskly.
You're one of my duties here, you
know, little girl, and I think Daddy
would prerer to have me near yon!
Now, If you like to ask him, perhaps
he'll not agree with me ; in which case
I shall move immediately! But mean
while" '
Nina's face was scarlet ; she left the
room abruptly. A moment or two later
Harriet- sauntered Into the adjoining
room, and found her again. The young- m
er girl was assuming a ruffled and be-
ribboned negligee, and tossing ner
wraps and street dress about careless
ly. Harriet noted this with disapprov
ing eyes, but said nothing. There was
an immense picture of Mrs. Tabor on
the dressing table, and she found in
that a sudden solution of the strange
change in Nina. '
"'With Ladybird's unending devo
tion, to Ninette,'" read Harriet, from
the Inky scrawl across the picture.
Do you call her Ladybird, Nina? xou
and she have formed a pretty strong
friendship, haven't you?"
"Oh, something more than that!"
Nina drawled in her- new manner.
"She's the best sort 1"
Does she have my room when she
Is here?" Harriet presently suggested,
sympathetically. "Now, my dear," she
added, as Nina's quick self-copsclous
and hostile look gave consent "Mrs.
Tabor is too thoroughly acquainted
with convention to blame you if your
father keeps you under a governess'
eye for a little while longer. You're
the most precious thing your father
has, Nina, and as I used to remind you
years ago, you don't begin to have the
restrictions that the European prin
cesses have to bear!"
This view of the case was always
pleasing to Nina's vanity; she was
quite clever enough to see that a friend
protected and confined, watched and
valued, would lose no prestige with
the charming "Ladybird." She pouted;.
and Harriet saw that for the moment
the battle was hers.
Darling gown !" said Harriet of the
picture.
"Oh, she has tne most wonaerrur
clothes I" It was the old Nina's voice;
"Has she been here very much?"
Harriet said, after a moment.
"Oh. lots ! She loves to be here, and'
I can't think why," Nina said, "be
cause people are all crazy to get her,
and she cotld go to the most wonderful
dinners and things. But she really Is
Just like a girl, herself ; sometimes w
burst right out laughing, because we
think exactly the same about things f
And she Just loves picnics, and to let
her hair down and she's so funny t
You'll Just love , lier when yoa know
her"
Nina, Harriet reflected, had' had a
thorough dose of pofson. It would take,
like many diseases, more poison to cure
her, a counter dose. Going to twr room
to change to one of the new gowns,
Harriet had a moment of contempt for
the new-found Intimate, who could so
unscrupulously play upon the girl's
hungry soul. But; with this situation
it was possible to cope; there was defi
nite comfort In the fact thnt Nina hud
not mentioned Royal Blondin.
Brave In the new gown, whose lus
terless black velvet made even more
brilliant her matchless skin, Harriet
went to find Ward. She met instead,
one of his house-guests. Corey Eaton,
a man some years older than Ward a
big. rawboned. unscrupulous youth,
with a wild and indiscriminate laugh.
"It Un't exactly wht I ex
pected marriage to be!"
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
Bulgarians Learn to Work.
One week of manual and agricultur
al labor Is In future to be included in
the year's work of every Bulgarian
school, for boys and girls alike.
Induces Blunt Remarks.
When a razor loses Its temper, tV
user of It Is very apt to, aJso, liostu
Transcri&t