Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1907-10-31
A Loss and a Gain
BY May BeHeUiIie Bropn
By May BeHeuiiie BrotDn

Hope Winslow cIoried In the fact
that she was q descendant of the May.
flower pilgrims. The three.volume
soneaioEy on the library shelf. which
showed the effects OF frequent use,
established the fact, as well as the
letters and relics that. in the division
and redivision Of household gods. had
fallen to her branch OF the family.
She proudly wore the badges Of the
Daughters q the American Revolution.
OF the Colonial Danes. and OF the
Mayfuvcr Descendants, and sat in
the councils Of these orders. Her
portrait had been painted In the fash.
ion Of the Puritan Hope WinsioW, n
she had a colonial fitted mp in
her home.
- think you are very provoking,
size exclaimed, and quite lacking in
the right kind Of pride. You know
that your name was originally Alden,
and that you could establish your line
through the original Alden family
"Of course, admitted the young
man. good.naturedly; but my father
and grandfather were both John
Eden. and their example is a good
one for me to emulate In all things,
since both left the world better for
having lived in it"
But o miss my meaning per
sisted Hope. tapping the floor with
her foot. 1t would really be adding
honor to their memory to establish
such ancestry through them"
How was John Alden any better
than John Eden" queried the young
man a trife Indignantly. What does
history have to say of him more i'm.
portant than the fact that he was so
thick-headed that poor little Priscilla
had to propose to him? | don't think
that the little crippled ones down at
the Eden Home would evere my
fathers memory any more If l were
to tell them that his ancestor came
over in the M%ayAower."
Hope c%oquettishly fenced his indig.
nation. Yes; but, john wish you
would become eligible to attend the
costume ball of our New England so.
ciety, so that you might dance the
minuet with me-and-oh! ever so
many others"
Thank you" said John. still grim.
ly; you know | love to dance with
you, Hope; but | only wear knee
trousers when | golf, and since | left
the football team | have given up
long hair. ! might as well tell you
now. Hope, that your New England
society seems a make-believe to me,
when almost all your members were
born in the Mississippi valley, and all
oi them live here. iuur Iuty 20 &C lie
doing something to build up the west.
rather than"
THAT will do, Mr.. Eden" glared
Hope. rising 10 her feet. Fortunately
your opinion is a matter Of indiffer-
ence to me. so further enlargement
upon the topic is unnecessary. And
you will please excuse me now. as |
have some committee work for the
New England society this afternoon. :
i've done IT," so~liloquized the
young man dejectedly. as he strobe
down street. Made a fool Of myself
40 NEAais IL INV AlRl' . dIEis Nlfdl
through. This will mean that Thurby.
with his Declaration Of Independence
record, will have a clear field. | wish
the memory Of the Puritan Fathers
was In Halifax. or that | could keep
my beastly temper"
And because Of these circumstances
the business Of the North Star Milling
company, the presidency and manage
ment of which had fallen by Inherit
ance into John Eldca's hands, re.
oe!yed %redoubled attention from him;
while the forthcoming costume ball Of
the New England society became the
apparent aim of Hope Winslow's ex
istence.
But as she viewed herself In the
mirror on the night of the ball, ar
rayed as a gray-gowned, white-capped
Puritan maiden, she gave a little sigh
for the John Alden OF her dream.
Then she ran downstairs where her
aunt, in the finery Of a Martha Wash.
ington dame, was beaming upon Thur
by, who, as a continental officer, was
to act as their escort.
The ballroom was thronged with a
picturesque crowd-Puritan and cava.
lier, quaker and courtier, straight
locks and perfumed curls, homespun
and brocade flashed back and forth as
they marched and swung and courte-
sled in the old-time measures.
Hopes continental officer had ex.
cused himself during the evening. and
only returned in time to put the two
ladies into their carriage. He was
breathless, rather dishe7elled and
minus his sword and cooked hat. The
situation plainly demanded an expla.
nation.
Il cannot tell you how sorry ! was
to leave you, particularly without tell.
ing You the reason" he began, but |
did not want to spoil your evening"
Has anything happened that con,
Germs me-" queried Hope. leaning for.
ward in alarm.
Something that concerns one OF
your friends" returned the young
man. Fire started in the North Star
elevators this evening, and when
heard Of 1t | hurried across the city
to see II | could help Elden-he and
were college chums. you know,
Hope had partly risen from the
seat opposite, as she asked eagerly.
"Oh, was II entirely Destroyer
Yes, Miss Winslow.' was the reluc
ant answer Not only two of th'
elevators, but the mill, as well al
three cars OF -four. The buildings wer,
30 close together that with the higi