The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1913-01-02
and probed his memory.


Durand was lost in thought. There
might easily be two Harold Dryers
and yet something told the minister
| that 1t was not 80 in this case. HI
adddenly felt as If his trip TO the east
his walk in the park, and in fact his
whole life had been a preparation fol
the finding of this marriage license.
Argument whispered to him that
Harold Dwyer may have lost his
first wife, but wisdom told him thai
such was not the case.
in any event, I will take the IL
cense to the girl" he decided and
wondered why he sought the girl
rather than the man. Yet instinct
told him that the man could not be
trusted and that the girl was in need
of warning.
1t was toward the late afternoon
when the young minister made his
way to the home of Letitia Larkin.
Somehow he had had a presentiment
that the girl would be living In q
boarding house.
Yes; she did live in one Of those
domiciles for the homeless in the big
city. A slovenly but affable maid let
the young minister into the front
room with the information that Miss
Larkin was engaged with the ladies'
guild, but that she would bring her
down from the top floor.
Lost in wonderment as to why the
parlors of boarding houses invariably
contained plush album and table
with marble top the minister did
not hear the soft entrance Of Letitia
Larkin. When he did catch sight OF
Der he arose quickly to his feet with q
luickly indrawn breath He had not
prepared himself for the big innocent
eyes of Letitia or the demure smile
on Letitia's lips or the smooth shin
ing braids on Letitia' S head. or in fact
any of the manifold charms that made
up the entire Letitia. He only looked
at her and gripped himself the harder
because of the pain he felt he was
about to inflict.
She drew nearer and held out a
steady, cordial hand Any member of
the clergy was always welcome to
Letitia and she supposed he was one
who had learned of her little odds
and ends of charity work.
The girls eyelashes swept quickly
down when she felt the warm, pro-
tecting pressure of the minister's
hand. Then she looked up and said:
Wont you be seated?"
81 have come on a rather peculiar
Grand" The minister spoke with
a touch of gravity. 81 found this"
He held out the marriage license and
saw the quick color flame into Lett
tia's checks.
ooh! Thank you so much. Harold
Mr.. Dryer must have lost It,"
81 found 1t in Central park" the
clergyman said and waited until the
color had receded from the girls
face. 81 could have mailed the doc
ument but l used to know a Harold
Dwyer-in fact the Rev. Mr.. Du-
rand hesitated for the fraction OF a
minute then went bravely on, 81 mar
ried Mr.. Harold Dwyer four years
ago. His wife was a dear friend c.
mine"
The minister watched the girls face.
1t had grown shade paler and a
startled look had come into her eyes.
She regained her composure almost
Immediately and laughed a pretty,
ringing laugh.
why Is it," she asked with not
quite steady voice, "that one always
jumps to conclusions? The world is
certainly large enough to contain two
or even three Harold Dryers"
There was a sudden silence in the
room while a glance fraught with fear
and newborn understanding passed
between the minister and the girl
The minister was the first to speak
and he strove to make his tone light.
Then you are the first to venture
with your Mr.. Dryer into the land OF
matrimony?"
"Yes," said the girl, initiating his
tone, but underneath there was a
vague feeling of disquiet. The room
seemed suddenly to be peopled with
strange and ugly shapes.
The girl turned toward the window
as If to escape some hidden pressure.
Here is Mr.. Dryer now" she said.
but in a dull monotone.
The Rev. DR.. Durand had caught a
feeting glimpse of the man who was
then entering the house, and he took
up a position we'll in the center so
that Dryer might see him to best ad.
vantage.
The minister was conscious of heav.
lily beating pulses when he heard the
mans entrance and felt him glance
into the front room. Then he heard a
smothered exclamation and realized
that Harold Dwyer had fled precipi'
lately from the life of Letitia Larkin
The girl realized everything in a
flash OF intuition. She smiled halt
wistful little smile and because she
was adorably feminine she did tina,
which was expected Of her and
tainted into the ministers arms
When she opened her eyes he was
gazing down at her with an express
sion that brought all the color bacl,
into Letltia's cheeks.
1T was good of you to save me- she
said demurely.
Il couldn't do less" the minister
told her. "And thank my good mem
DRY for Names" he added.
Letitia was slowly tearing the IL
cense to bits.
You can get another one-some
day" the Rev. Durand said, half In