The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1902-04-17

vacant seat near her. he promptly took
possession of it.
What made you so later she in
quired. as he sat down. Il was sure
this cold, drizzly rain had kept you
away"
1T would have taken more than the
risk of getting wet to have done that, ,
he answered with simple directness
that brought the quick flush to the
creamy, white skin, one of the charms
that usually accompany red hair, and
which was so enticing in Miss Ingalls,.
You were singing when came in,
Harrington continued, as he watched
the soft color dart away as quickly as it
came II imagine you have studied
abroad, have you notP"
Yes for the last few years, since
left boarding school"
with Mrs. Delaney, l SUPPOSE cas-
ually.
,Oh, mol" she answered quickly.
with my aunt; Stella and | were
schoolmates and friends for years when
| came South to live, but this is the first
time / have seen her since she was
married"
II should have thought from your ac-
cent that you had always lived in the
South, Harrington said slowly, trying
not to betray in his voice his eagerness
to hear something of her early life.
How keen you Northern men are to
detect the Southern accent, she an
swered, with little note of approval.
II was born in the South, in Virginia,
but when ] spoke of going South to live
l meant, way down in Dixie land, in
Mississippi"
"Ah yes, he said, reluctantly strok-
ing his mustache, and noting with sat-
isfaction that the group around thu IN
had gradually broken up and strolled
away.
Then you really consider Virginia
your homer"
"As much as a nomad like myself
can claim any home, she said little
wistfully. For years | spent my life
travelling with my invalid mother for
her health, and after her death ] lived
with my aunt in Mississippi, until ]
went to Paris to study music. But,
after all, there has never been any place
half so dear to me as my old home in
fredericksburg, where | was born, and
where my mother is buried.
She had unconsciously lowered her
voice at the last words, and for q mo-
ment sat quietly gazing into the bright
flames and so missed the look of salts
faction that came over his face as she
mentioned the name OF her birthplace.
All doubt was removed from his mind
as to the identity of the child whose
picture he had carried all these years
and the girl sitting beside him; but he
was about to question her further when
Chapman's voice broke in
Pardon me, old man. for interrupt
ing YOU but don't you think you have
monopolized Miss Ingalls, long enough
for one afternoon? Suppose you give
someone else a chance and say good
night before Mrs. Delaney puts you
out"
Harrington rose reluctantly, apologiz
ing to Miss Ingalls, for his selishness
and after obtaining her consent to join
him on q horseback ride in the evening
if clear, took his leave, goodnaturedly
submitting to the chatting with which
Chapman beguiled him on the way
home.
During the month that followed
while Harrington fingered long after
the two weeks vacation he had intend
ed to take had flown, not u day passed
in which he did not meet Miss Ingalls,
driving with her for miles through the
picturesque country around Bayview,
taking long walks up the beach or sit
ting for hours under shelter of huge
Japanese umbrella, until the incoming
tide drove them home. During these
hours spent together, Harrington often
led his companion to talk OF her early
life, particularly the time spent in Vir-
ginia, not that he once doubted, since
that first meeting at the wedding, that
years before she had once been the OBJ
ject of his boyish affection, as she was
now the all-absorbing love of mans
heart, but he loved to watch.the dreamy
expression, never entirely absent from
the dark eyes, deepen, ana listen to the
sweet, low voice that grew 80 tender
when speaking Of those happy, childish
days, and the delicate, gentle mother
He had never reminded her of that
earlier friendship between Them and
the girl had evidently forgotten it en-
tirely, for she had more than once spok
en- of her last summer in Virginia at