The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1914-04-18

youth and folly behind him. He was
more conscious of this han when, aft
er the welcome home had quieted
down a bit, he strolled out and glanced
at the Blanchard porch. A dazzling
young lady over there vas arranging
her fluffy summer gown picturesquely
as she sat down in n 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-
IRENE serious maturity.
Welcome to our beautiful ethyl"
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
GhdN oSpdA dNGu NhV WV Ia W 49, III III
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
nifed bow to her; then he walked Sc
'dately down the Gilman path and out
at the Gilman gate; he walked sedate-
1y over to the Blanchard gate and
z-a-na a.. Io uuoIIynl Ea1otnI,y ,n tho
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. 81 should scarcely have
known you
I'VE all change" she solemnly re-
piled through lips that we're full and
red and most deliciously curved. I'VE
bud, we blossom, we ripen and decay
Lfe-ah, life is merciless!"
Yes" he admitted pensively, eve
are always growing older"
nc was thly-lWO anu lGGlluB lOI
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 a large, square, cream
tinted envelope and very fat. The
address was in a mans bold chirog.
r,nhvy ar1 NJ r;Ir,a- f.our,oI - h.
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 1t carefully bach
in the book; it was too sacred a thing
to be treated flippantly. Already
Alice Blanchard had met her Fate
She was a 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
thoughtful eyes.
ut must be fine to be a man." pres
emily sighed Miss Blanchard; ito b.
able to go out in the world and fgh
for fame and fortune"
He turned ~reproachful eyes upol
her.
"Fame!" he expostulated. Fortune
There are too many Of the world
greedy host after those empty hor
ors."
Miss Blanchard was startled, bu
gave him instant comprehension. She
too, was just back from college.
True" she sighed. How true"
"As for myself" he went on, IN
die is cast. / have already engage
to devote myself, after a short perio
of repose with the good grandparent
who raised me, to the uplifting of hi
,manity. Settlement work is to occup
my time henceforth."
His eye was calm but stern. Fl
did not glow with enthusiasm. TIL
cause was not one for mere boyia
fervor. 1t was a mans serious, sobe
solemn mission that he was unde
taking.
"How noble!" breathed the girl.
moi" he protested. "It is merel
a debt that our family owe to h
mainly. Oh, you do not know, Nil
Blanchard, you cannot conceive
the misery that abounds in tn
world"
Miss Blanchard turned upon hi
large wide eyes that were deep ar
somber with sudden sorrow.
Perhaps I do. though" she reptile
softly. Our own burdens teach
sympathy and understanding"
Her eyes turned from him, in e
PLANTATION, to the fat envelope whe
its edge peeped out from the book. tt
envelope did not interest him mu'
and he returned to the eyes. TIL
we're remarkably pretty eyes, We
blue, indeed, and full Of expressic
The lashes above them were long al
curved. The hair clustering about h
white brow was of the exact gold
shade that had let him stretch a poi
TO call 1t red when he was a boy. f
low its shining waves the tip of a phi
ear was revealed. Her cheeks we
rounded and creamy. Her neck W
a ffrm white. beautifully modelled C.
umn that supported her small he
most gracefully. Picklesl To thii
that he had ever called her Pickle
Grandfather and Grandmother G
Setting Up 6aIzae's Copy.
u.s. nr0Ion0otfo NJ tho rua