The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1902-04-17
A Daughter of the Gods.


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Pansing perceptibly, she glanced again
at Chapman, but the sight of the stocky,
brownie-like little figure, the bald head
barely reaching to her shoulder, and
the crowded rows of pews up which
she must pass, proved too much for her,
and with slightly defiant look in her
eyes she accepted Harrington's arm and
in chilled silence followed her friend
and Chapman amid low murmur OF
administration from the crowd con-
gregated near the doorway.
Harrington gained little from this
auspicious beginning, however, for
throughout the remainder of the time
passed in the church the girl steadily
avoided meeting his eyes, although she
must have been conscious of the per
sistency with which he continued to
gaze in her direction during the cere'
mony. At The reception following he
soon met her companion. Mrs. De
lancey, whom she was visiting, but II
looked on to Harrington as if the girl
was intentially avoiding him.
But 'the best laid plans o mice and
men aft gang aglee, and he finally
found the opportunity for which he had
been waiting all evening, when he
caught sight of her standing near the
hall door beside Mrs. Pendleton, the
brides mother, and a group of young
people, their hands filled with the
proverbial rice and old slippers TO be
showered upon the blushing heads OF
the escaping couple.
Gently but firmly pushing and ell
bowling his way through the crowded
rooms Harrington succeeded in reach
ing Mrs. Pendleton's side, where he
was cordially greeted by that plump,
goodnatured matron, with whom he
stood in high favor AS she merrily
offered him q handful of rice she in
troduced him to her companion. Miss
Ingalls,, and then turning to 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 infec.
tious laugh.
Suddenly there arose u chorus of dis.
appointed voices:
Shes 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 unmolested.
As they all hocked back into tht
house laughing and protesting over tn,
trick played them, the musicians
started waltz, and Harrington anC
Miss Ingalls, joined the dancers in the
ballroom.
At the conclusion of the first walt;
Harrington skillfully led his partner t.
cool distant corner in the Conserva
tory, where he felt secure from untime
ly Interruptions from the strollins
couples nearer the door.
With little sigh of contentment tn,
girl sank into a low wicker chair, ant
leaned her head back against its cush
ions. The dark green of the foliage
with the masses of crimson azalias be
hind her, formed background for he
superb figure that would have de
lighted an artists eye, and Harrington
noting the rich reddish CLEAN of he
hair in the soft light, thought he haC
never seen more perfect picture. Th
sweet. subtle odor Of violets the sof
splash of the tiny, fountain near by, AM
the subdued strain of the distant music
the only sounds that broke the stiffness
but, served to deepen the spell of tn
girls glorious dark eyes and low swee
Southern voice.
The vague, intangible feeling tina
had haunted Harrington all the even
ing, of having seen that wonderful.
beautiful red gold hair, and those darl
violet eyes, now grew into a certaint
rs he vainly struggled TO recall to hi
treacherous memory the time and plac
of that former meeting
Absorbed in his thoughts and tn
contemplation of the beautiful face be
fore him. he was unconscious of tn
fixed, undisguised look of admiration i