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


within of a ehild's marvelously beautiful
face. with great. dark eyes, almost too
serious for child, and wealth of soft
earls framing the delicate, oval coHnte-
nance.
The face that smiled at him from the
watch was the same that had so puZ-
lied and bewitclled him that night. The
eyes. with the soft, dreamy expression,
the rich, red-gold hair. and soft. delicate
colc.ing III lips and cheeks were I'M
changed. The promise of great beauty
/ IN the child had been more than fulfilled
| in the woman.
With a sigh of satisfaction at having
solved The puzzle that had worried him
50 ell evening, Harrington replaced his
watch IN his pocket, feeling confident
that the little sweetheart of years ago
and the girl he had just met were one
and the same.
From your little 'red-headed sweet
| Va = -
How well he remembered now the
cramped. childish writing-strange that
he had not been struck by the similarity
Of the names. and that sweet Southern
i accent; bat why had Mrs Delaney called
her Violet. when her real name was
! GLADYS?
Still puzzling over the change in names.
for he was satisfied there had been a
change since he had last en- her, Har-
rington fell asleep and dreamed all night
Iof lighting red-headed boys. who wore
yiolets on their coats, because they called
him Gladys.
The oarly fail day was drawing 70 a
close with a cold. misty rain the next
afternoon as Harrington and Chapman
entered Mrs. Delancy's brightly-lighted,
attractive little house-the merry crack
ing. wood fires and pink-shaded lamps
within forming a cheerful contrast to
the cold and gloom outside. A woman's
full, rich voice was filling the rooms with
exquisite melody as the two men paused
upon the threshold to listen Despite
i the gloomy weather, the gay society set.
with few exceptions, were present IN full
force. their merry voices hushed for the
lmoment.
Behind a tea table on the opposite side
Of the room sat a bright-faced, black
i eyed little girl, who nodded gayly as she
caught sight Of Chapman in the doorway
and motioned him to a seat beside her
an invitation which he promptly accept
ed. Harrington did not notice this lit
tie by-play, however, his eyes being fixed
intently upon the girl standing beside the
piano, her full notes filling the room with
sweetness. 1t was Miss ingalls,, dressed
in soft gray gown, which chung in sim
/ pie folds to her graceful figure. She was
standing with her hands clasped loosely
before her. her head slightly turned
away from the door. so that Harrington
could watch the exquisite profile unob-
served.
As the last notes died away he came
forward to join in the general expression
of delight, and entreaties for another
song. Miss ingalls, graciously and unaf-
fectedly complied with the request. and
j then turning from the piano, exclaimed,
i g0od-naturedly. as she eluded the detain-
,f.rI4f
You've been sufficiently amused and |
am too hoarse to speak"
Someone drew a large easycnair be-
/ fore the blazing fire for her, and the
reom soon hummed again with the mer-
| ny voices and laughter and the rattle of
teacups. Harrington did not immediate
lly join the circle around Miss Ingalls,
chair, stopping TO chat instead with Mrs.
i Delaney, but presently spying Il vacant
seat near her. he promptly took posses
/ sion of it.
What made Won SO late?' She in
| quiz red, as he sat down. Il was sure this
cold. d1izzly rain had kept you away
i 1T would have taken more than the
4 rlsn Of getting wet TO have done that, !"
ehc answered with a simple directness
/ that brought the quick flush to the
i 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 not?"
Yes. for the last few years, since /
left boarding school"
with Mrs. Delaney, | suppose?" casu-
ally.
.0h, nor' she answered quickly.
with my aunt: Stella and / were school
mates and friends for years when l
came South TO live, but this is the first
time have seen her since she was
married"
Il should have thought from your ac-
cent that you had always lived in the
South Harrington said slowly. trying
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.
Il was born in the South, in Virginia,
but when | spoke of going South to live
/ meant way down in Dixie land in
/ Mississippi"
..Ah yes" he said. reluctantly strokins
his mustache, and noting with satisfac-
ton that the group around them had
gradually broken mp and strolled away,
| Then yon really consider Virginia
your home?"
sAs much as nomad like myself can
At
fully. ''For years / spent my life trav-
cling 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 sc
dear TO me as my old home in Freder-
icksburg. where L was born, and where
my mother is buried
She had unconsciously lowered her
voice ut the last words, and for n nc
ment sat quietly gazing into the bright
flames and so missed the look of satisfac-
tian that came over his face as she men
toned the name of her birthplace. Al
doubt was removed from his mind as tt
the identity of the child whose picture
he had carried all these years and the
girl sitting beside him; but he was about
TO- questionelier further when Chapman
4 voice broke in:
pardon me, old man, for interruptins
yon, but don't you think you have monop
o,ized Miss Ingalls, long enough for one
afternoon? Suppose you give someon,
else chance and say goodnight hefor,
Mrs. Delaney puts you out.
Harrington rose reluctantly, apologize
ing to Miss Ingalls, for his selfishness
f&np nhtoipiOo bar. ranSapf IN SnSY