The Winslow mail., 1914-04-18
The Man, the Mission
and the Maid
Bv GEORGE Randolph Chester
BY George Randolph Chester


WQon hal Gilman got nome from
college he had left all such things as
youth and folly behind him. He was
more conscious of this than when, aft.
er the welcome home had quieted
down bit, he strolled out and glanced
at the Blanchard porch. A dazzling
young lady over there was arranging
her fluffy summer gown picturesquely
as she sat down in one of the big rock.
ing chairs She was supplied with
a pink book, the color of which
matched her gown and her cheeks per.
fectly, but before she opened the book
she gave the neighborhood a satisfied
inspection and so saw the young man
looking out upon his boyhood sur.
roundings with the new eyes Of ex.
treme serious maturity.
Welcome to our beautiful city"
called the girl gaily, rising from her
chair.
1t was Miss Blanchard after all. He
had been in some doubt about it.
Pickles he had used to call her. He
shuddered at the memory of the dread
full word. A year ago, too, he would
have vaulted over the picket fence
that separated the two lawns, and in
an instant more would have been
sprawling upon the Blanchard steps.
He remembered this also with a pang
as he lifted his hat and made a dig
nified bow to her; then he walked Sc
dately down the Gilman path and out
at the Gilman gate; he walked sedate-
ly over to the Blanchard gate and
opened it; he walked sedatey up the
Blanchard path and upon the Blanch-
ard porch, where he deposited himself
and his rigid Prince Albert carefully
upon a chair, after having shaken
hands most politely with the Blanch-
ard young lady. How you have bios
somed!" he observed with a fatherly
gravity that forbade any suspicion Of
gallantry. II should scarcely have
known you"
I'VE all change" she solemnly re-
piled through lips that were full and
red and most deliciously curved. I'VE
bud, we blossom, we ripen and decay.
lhlc-du, Ill0 Is m0TCllcSS!
"Yes," he admitted pensively, I'VE
are always growing older"
He was twenty-five and feeling for
a mustache; so the weight of advan-
cling years lay heavily upon him. Alice
Blanchard reached over to lay her
pink book upon the tabourette at her
right hand, and the book-mark fell
out. 1t was large, square, cream
tinted envelope and very fat The
address was in mans bold chirog-
raphy, and Mr.. Gilman frowned as he
noted it. This sort of thing was a
part Of the folly he had left behind
him forever. Miss Alice picked up the
letter, but she did not do it hastily,
nor blush. She put it carefully back
in the book; it was too sacred thing
to be treated flippantly. Already
Alice Blanchard had met her Fate.
She was woman, now, with all the
responsibilities and cares that come
to a mature woman of nineteen.
Silence ensued. They looked out
upon the pretty suburban street with
LuOuSuIlu1 eyes.
1T must be fine to be a man." pres
emily sighed Miss Blanchard; ito be
able to go out in the world and fight
for fame and fortune"
He turned reproachful eyes upon
her.
"Fame!" he expostulated. Fortune!
There are too many Of the world s
greedy host after those empty hon
ors."
Miss Blanchard was startled, but
gave him instant comprehension. She,
too, was just back from college.
True" she sighed. "How true"
LAS for myself he went on, my
die is cast. l have already engaged
to devote myself, after short period
of repose with the good grandparents
who raised me, to the uplifting of hu-
manity. Settlement work is to occupy
my time henceforth.'
His eye was calm but stern. He
did not glow with enthusiasm. The
cause was not one for mere boyish
fervor. 1t was a mans serious, sober.
solemn mission that he was under
taking.
How noble!" breathed the girl
mol" he protested. ut is merely
a debt that our family owes to hu-
manity. Oh, you do not know, Miss
Blanchard, you cannot conceive of
the misery that abounds in this
world!"
Miss Blanchard turned upon him
large wide eyes that were deep and
somber with sudden sorrow
Perhaps l do, though" she replied,
softly. Our own burdens teach us
sympathy and understanding"
Her eyes turned from him, in ex-
PLANTATION, to the lat envelope where
its edge peeped out from the book. The
envelope did not interest him much
and he returned to the eyes. They
were remarkably pretty eyes, very
blue, indeed, and full of expression
The lashes above them were long and
curved. The hair clustering about her
white brow was of the exact golden
shade that had let him stretch a point
to call it red when he was boy. Be