Willmar tribune., 1907-11-06
A. Loss and q Gain
By May Be1epille Bro..on,,
Copyright, by Joseph B. Bowles. J

Hope Winslow gloried in the fact
that she was descendant of the May
flower pilgrims. The three-volume
genealogy on the library shelf, which
showed the effects of frequent use,
established the fact, as we'll 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 of the American Revolution,
of the Colonial Danes, and of the
Mayflower Descendants, and sat in
the councils of these orders. Her
portrait had been painted in the fash
ion of the Puritan Hope .Wins1ow, and
she had colonial room fitted up in
her home.
Il think you are very provoking"
she 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 we're both John
Elden, 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 you 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 Elden?" queried the young
man trifle 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? I don't think
that the little crippled ones down at
the Elden Home would revere my
fathers memory any more if were
to tell them that his ancestor came
over in the Mayflower."
Hope coquettishly fenced his indig
nation. Eyes; but, John-I 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 l love to dance with
you, Hope; but I only wear knee
trousers when golf, and since left
| the football team l have given up
long hair. l 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
of them live here. Your duty is to be
doing something to build up the west
rather than"
THAT will do, Mr.. Elden," glareG
Hope, rising to her feet. "Fortunately
your opinion is 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.
1--WE done it," soliloquized the
young man dejectedly, as he strode
down street. Made fool of myself
as usual, and now Hope is angry clea1
through: This will mean that Thurby
with his Declaration of independence
record, will have clear field. I wisf
the memory of the Puritan Fathers
was in Halifax, or that could kee1
my beastly temper!"
| And hnnonco of thoo1 o;uo,,,,.4o-oo<
the business of the North Star Milling
company, the presidency and manage
ment of which had fallen by inherit
ance into John Elden's hands, re
| cefved redoubled attention from him
while the forthcoming costume ball O.
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 gray-gowned, white-cappet
Puritan maiden, she gave little sigt
for the John Alden of her dream.
Then she ran downstairs where he,
! aunt, In the fnery of a Martha Wash
ington dame, was beaming upon Thur
by, who, rs continental officer, was
! to act as their escort.
The ballroom was thronged with =
picturesque crowd-Puritan and cava
| l1er, quaker and courtier, straight
| locks and perfumed curls, homespur
| and brocade flashed back and forth al
they marched and swung and courte
sled in the old-time measures.
Hopes continental officer had ex
cused himself during the evening. an(
| only returned in time to put the two
ladies into their carriage. He wa:
breathless, rather dishevelled ant
minus his sword and cooked hat. The
situation plainly demanded an expla
| nation. ...~
Il cannot tell you how sorry wa:
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 O.
your friends returned the youns
man. Fire started in the North Sta1
I elevators this evening, and when
| heard of it I hurried across the cit,