The Winslow mail., 1897-05-08
Dads HdrkinS' Wedding
Dy VIOLA ROSEBOR0.

company s preSlden6 came SLOWLY up Iho
walk. everybody on the gallery shifted
position little as an unconscious ex-
preston of Difference, and as the dlgnlta-
ry drew nearer the two young men OF
the party rose to their feet, but though
the apparent difficulty Of his movement
might have seemed to sanction such
courtesy they did not offer him an arm
up the steps. They well knew that the
colonel would not appreciate SUCH at
tention. The colonel's clean shaven
dark face wore an odd characteristic ex-
preston, because his brows were knit,
and his lips and keen blue eyes were
family and quizzically smiling. When
he reached the top of the steps, he lift
ed his broad soft hat TO the ladies and
took look at everybody. 'I've got some
news for you. he said.
law. paw
.seolonel, your a godsend" I"
''Tell US. quick.
The replies to this beneficent state
ment tumbled over each other
You're all invited to party" said
the colonel, seating himself slowly in
the shock bottom chair negro girl
placed for him in front of the rest of the
party. The excitement of the ladies,
young and old, rose to dramatic heights,
and even the young men could not pre-
vent their cOuntenances Frightening. A
pretty, crinkly headed, brown hued girl,
all ribbons and bangles, fell upon the
colonel bodily.
LAW, paw" she cried again. tell
us, is it over at the Alpine House?"
"More likely it'sdown at thecollege, !"
said another lady.
''Tell US, colonel" said one of the
young men, with an effort at insouci-
ance.
Charley" said the colonel to his
daughter, who, despite her failure to be
boy, had been named for himself, ''get
away from my lame shoulder. Sit down,
and I'll tell you all about it. reckon
none of you'd guess in a month y
The suspense intensified and in several
minds became shadOwed with doubt as
TO whether anything so inconceivable
could be desirable.
''Art Harkins has a girl who is going
to get married Wednesday night. He's
going to give her big wedding and
invites everybody in the house to-
The colonel got no further. A shrill
vocal storm broke over his head, and he
tilted his chair back against wooden
pillar and waited for it to subside.
All his audience were sufficiently in
terested and informed in the affairs of
the mine to know that just now an in-
yitation from Art Harkins resembled in
one way q similar attention from royal
ty. 1t had the force of command. Art
Harkins was a mountaineer who could
not read nor write, but who, by astute-
ness, energy. and, as was generally be-
lieved, cunning unscrupulousness, had
actually contrived TO get rich, rich not
merely for a Inountaineer, but rich even
I'm the opinion of the impressive, imagi-
native and influential bankrupts who
formed the majority of the mining COM
pany Harkins was a member of the
company and large stock owner, and
all the women III the hotel knew that for
weeks their various masculine relatives
had been hanging in midair in some in
comprehensive but terribly real busi-
ness uncertainty, from which only Art
Harkins could deliver them. And now
this homespun diplomat invited them to
avoiding party The group on the gal
lery grew SO vocal that feminine re-en-
forcements hurried out of the house to
see what was the matter. Under the cir
cumstances, after little bewildered
wavering, it was soon agreed that moth
ing could be more amusing, more fun,
more novel and generally delightful
than to go to Dade Harkins' wedding.
''And then." said Mrs. Peytee, mo
one but ourselves, no one that matters,
mean, need know anything about it.
'Tisn't as if we were over at the Alpine
House and had to explain things some
way to half the gulf states.
Mrs. Peytee was a round little bru-
nette widow who was often called Every
taking" She was cousin of Charley
Overman's, through Charley's mothers
side of the house, and in very easy 60
ing way, which was all the way they
knew, she was chaperoning the girl. So
cially she shone the more for her con-
nection with the Overmans.
The colonel was considered an impor-
tant man throughout the state, and,
moreover, he was counted charming, "a
fine conversationist and a good speak
er." In her heart of hearts Mrs. Peytee
aad come to the conclusion that it was
most desirable that he should marry a
good wife, have somebody better than a
giddy slip of girl to take care of him
and let somebody get the good of the
distinguished position awaiting his
wife. Mrs Peytee had faith in the fu-
ture of the mines, and she liked the colo
mel.
Several ladies among the summer col
nnists at Overtonia OWNED the exist
ence of these views in Mrs. Peytee's
mind-by the power of kindred sympa-
thies perhaps-although she had never
confided in them. Charley, however
was unsuspicious. Just now she was de-
voting all the thought she gave the sub
jects of love and marriage to their more
important aspects as connected with
herself. She was i'll love with one of
the young men on the gallery, ard he
was in love with her.
His name was Harry Williams, and
he was the son of another member of
the mining company. 1t was desirable
and suitable thing that these two should
marry, and as nobody had the least OBJ
lection or threw the slightest obstacle