Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1902-04-19


been waiting all evening, when he caught
sight Of her standing near the hall door
beside Mrs. Pendleton. the brides moth
er, and a group of young people. their
hands filed with the proverbial rice and
old slippers to be Sbowered upon the
blushing heads OF the escaping couple.
Gently but firmly pushing and ellJowing
his way through the crowded rooms.
Harrington succeeded IN reaching Mrs.
Pendletons side. whore he was cordially
greeted by that plump. good-natured ma
iron, with whom he stood III high favor
AS she melTily offered him a handful Of
rice she introduced hiRl TO her eolns,ail-
ior, Miss Ingalls,. and then turning 10
watch eagerly for the bride TO appear
left Harrington to make the most Of his
opportunity.
This he speedily did. and despite the
girls first marked reserve, which soon
melted under the influence of his natural
unaffected manner and infectious laugh.
Suddenly there arose u chorus OF dis
appointed voices:
'Sbe's not coming this way, They've
gone! They slipped out the side door.
and then followed rush to the side en-
trance, through which the bridal couple
had, indeed, succeeded in making their
escape unmOiested
AS they all fioeked back into the house,
laughing and protesting over the trick
played them, the musiciqns started q
waltz and Harrington and Miss ingalls,
joined the dancers in the ballroom
At the conclusion of the first waltz
Harrington skillfully led his partner to
a cool, distant corner OF the conservatory,
where he felt secure from nntimely in
terruptions from the strolling couples
nearer the door.
With a little sigh of contentment the
girl sank into low wicker chair, and
leaned her head back against its cush-
IONS The dark green of the foliage, with
the masses OF crimson azalias behind her
formed back ground for her superb fig-
ure that would have delighted an artists
eye. and Harrington, noting the rich, red
dish gleam of hef hair in the soft light,
thought he had never seen more per-
feet picture. The sweet, subtle odor of
violets, the soft splash of the tiny foun-
the distant music, the only sounds that
broke the stiffness. but served to deepen
the spell of the girls glorious dark eyes
and low. sweet Southern voice.
The vague, intangible feeling that had
haunted Harrington all the evening, of
having seen that wonderfully beautiful
red-gold hair. and those dark violet eyes,
now grew into certainty as he valnly
struggled to recall TO his treacheIous
memory the time and place of that for
mer meetin~.
Absorbed in his thoughts and the con-
temptation of the beautiful face before
him, he was unconscious of the fixed.
undisguised look of admiration in his
eyes, until Miss Ingalls, recalled him to
himself by saying, quizzically: "A penny
for your thoughts, 4-r. Harrington.
Solve them and l win give you moro
than that, even TO the half of m king
dom" he answered, . trifie seriously. she
THOUGHT, considering the occasion. rel
me where have met YOU before, and I
will be your debtor forever"
The girl snook her head emphatically.
81 never saw you until tonight at the
church. and even then l had to force my
self unwillingly upon YOU" she am
swered. laughing frankly at the recollec-
ton. II don't know what construction
you put upon my remark, which, by the
way, was never intended for your ears,
but | simply felt desperate when | saw
Stella calmly leaving me to my fate III
the shape of that funny-looking little
Brownie. Why, he wouldn't have come
up to my shoulder; nothing could have
persuaded me to walk up that crowded
church with him.
In the midst of the merry laugh that.
followed at the thought of the ineon-1
gruous manner in which the two couples
would have been matched had Mrs. De
lancy carried out her intention, that lady
herself appeared at the other end of the
conservatory and to Harringtons disgust
hurried toward them.
''Wel. here you are at lastw she ex-
claimed, nodding pleasantly as she came
no. 1--WE been hunting all over the
place for you, while the poor horses are
worn out waiting.
On the way to the carriage, to which
Harrington escorted them. Mrs. Delaney
invited him TO call next afternoon with
Mr.. Chapman. adding. as she leaned
out of the carriage window, just before
starting, This will be a good chance for
Violet TO atone for her rudeness to Mr..
Chapman tonight. ! am sure she will
not mind walking through my grounds
with him. provided there are not too
many people present"
Maybe she won't mind. but / will. =
Harrington muttered grimly as he
watched the carriage out of sight. and
then turned his footsteps homeward.
When Chapman reached his rooms
later in the evening. he found Harring-
ton still dressed. seated beside the open
window smoking.
Hello, old man; moonstruckT' he ex-
claimed. throwing his hat and light top
coat on the sofa. "Or still dreaming of
your fair red-haired inamorata and all
the sweet nothings you whispered in her
pretty ear ir the conservatory
> Only ItibN WIS an iMuiS
nant snort as he gaZed out of the win
dow, while Chapman continued calmly.
"Oh, you needn't deny it. Mrs. Delaney
had me hunting all over the place for
YOU two. but knew all along where you
were; that's the reason | studiously
avoided the conservatory in my search
Well, she would have been a fairly good
looking girl if she hadn't been so ever
lastingly tall. and then her hair is a little
too red to be pretty, don't you Think
The comical look of satisfaction with
which he was regarding his > feet in
the cheval glass was rudely interrupted
by the slipper fired with such accurate
aim that it barely missed the bald head
by its owner quickly lodging to one side.
After this unmistakahle proof of his
friends unsociability and desire to be left
alone with his thoughts, Chapman betook
himself off to bed, but not until he had
reap peared intthe doorway. In hisspink
| and white pajamas, and waving his hand
exclaimed triumphantly:
He thinks she is divinely tall,
And most diyineIy fair;
1 l don't agree with him at all.
For l cannot stand Red Hair.
The refrain was repeated several times
| for Harrington's benefit, after the light
| had been extinguished in the next room,