The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-12-06
MISS
MANSFIELD
By DONALD CEIAMBERLIN

Barradale was not able to get Il VA
cation till October On the 10th he
+ went to n house u mile distant from
villnge. q house where they took
summer buarders. The only other per
SOD there was u girl of nineteen.
Who she was did not appear. She was
not Il member of the family. She did
not reside there regularly. Sine spent
most Of the day in her room, but what
she did there was not made known TO
Barradaie
One morning when Barradale started
out for his accustomed morning walk
his landady Mrs. Stetson, asked him
If he happened to 60 by the p0stoffice
to bring the mail, adding that he was
TO give any letters that might come TO
her and no one else. Barradale called
for the mail and noticed that 1t consist
ed of two letters, both for Miss Mabel
Mansfield They were addressed In
masculine handwriting. Miss Mans
field was the young lady bOarder. Bar
radale delivered the letters TO Mrs
Stetson and thought no more about the
matter.
Having nothing else TO do, Barradale
took long walks, stopping for long
rests-that is, when the retreating
summer got the better Of the coming
autumn and II was warm enough to
sit still On several occasions he pass
ed the postotfice and always asked for
H., H.
for Miss Mansfield, sometimes adj
dressed IN u womans, sometimes III u
mans handwriting. Miss Mansfield
weather permitting, took walk in the
afternoon One afternoon. when Bar
rodale had the mail in his pocket, he
met her. Taking out the letters he
selected one for her, gave II TO her
and passed on. When he handed the
other letters to Mrs Stetson he men
toned that he had given one TO Miss
Mansfield. Mrs Stetson frowned, but
said nothing The next day she told
him that ne need not trouble himself
about the mail; she would get II her
self After that when he called ut the
postoftice he was given his own mail
and no more.
There was no one In the house to
interest Barradale except Miss Mans
field. and he longed to avail himself
Of her companionshtp He noticed,
however, that whenever he attempted
to do SO Mrs Stetson thrust herself
upon them. The consequence was
that Barradale noticing that Miss
Mansfield walked in the afternoon,
coutrived to meet her and walk with
her.
At first she denurred, saying that he
was stranger to her, and she was
not used to the society Of men. Girls
should be very careful with whom
they associate. However, she gradual
ly thnwed, and her prudence did not
prevent her from making appoint
ments TO meet him without the range
Of Mrs Stetson's watchful eye
Put young man and young wo-
man under the same roof with no
other associates. and the result is
usually the same When Barradale
went home he had received Miss Mans
fields permission to call upon her
mother-she had no father-who lived
10 the same city as himself, to ask for
her hand. The evening after his ar
rival he made the call. The house
was stone front, and dignifed eld- /
erly lady received him.
Mrs. Mansheld?" he asked.
II am Mrs, Mansfield.
"Mrs. Mansfield, ] have been spend
ing a month in the country. where !
have met your ida lighter"
At this the lady became all attention.
Il found her a charming girl" con
tinued Barradale-'indeed. so charm
Ing that fell in love with her"
Were you al Mrs. Stetsons?" asked
the lady sharply.
~ was"
Mrs. Stetson assured me that her
summer boarders had all returned to
the city snapped the lady.
Barradale was about TO proceed with
his application when Mrs Mansfield
broke IN, talking partly 10 herself and
partly TO him
What shall do with herr She's in.
corrigible. She got all the bows in the
high school in love with her. and |
packed her Il 10 college 10 get her