The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1916-11-30
MISS
MANSFIELD
By DONALD CIIAMBERLlN

went % house mile distant from
village. house where they took
summer borders. The only other per.
son there was girl Of nineteen.
Who she was did not appear. She was
not member Of the family. She did
not reside there regularly. She spent
most OF the day In her room, but what
she did there was not made known to
/ IBarradale.
One morning when Barradalc started
out for his accustomed morning walk
his landlady. Mrs. stetson, asked him
II he happened to go by the postoilice
to bring the mail. adding that lie was
to give any letters that might come 10
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 IL, when the retreatlng
summer got the better Of the coming
autumn and II was warm enough TO
sit still. On several occasions he pass
ed the postofiice and always asked for
the mail There was usually letter
| for Miss Mansfield, sometimes al
| dressed In womun's. sometimes In a
mans handwriting. Miss Mansfield,
weather permitting. took a 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 10 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 he need not trouble himself
about the mail: she would get It her
self. After that when he called at the
postofiice 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 companionship. lie 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,
contrived 20 meet her and walk with
her.
At first she demurred. saying that he
was stranger TO her. and she was
not used 20 the society OF men. Girls
should DO very careful with whom
they associate. However. she gradual
ly thawed, and her prudence did not
prevent her from making appoint
ments to meet him without the range
Of Mrs. Stetsons watchful eye.
Put q young man and a 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
/ In the same city as himself, to ask for
her hand. The evening after his ar
rival he made the call. The house
was a stone front, and a dignihed efd-
erly lady received him.
Mrs. Mansheld?" he esked.
y am Mrs. Mansfield" $50
Mis-. Mansfield, have been spend
Ing a month IN the country. where
have met your daughterS 49,.
At this the lady became all attention.
Il found her charming girl" con-
/ tinued arradale-''indeed. so charm
/ ing that fell In love with her"
Were you at Mrs. Steison's?" asked
the lady sharply.
II was"
Mrs. Stetson assured me that her
summer boarders had all returned to
the city" snapped the lady.
Barradale was about 10 proceed with
his application when Mrs. Mansfield
broke In, talking partly TO herself and
partly to him.
What shall do with her? She's In.
corrigiblc. She got all the boys in the
high school in love with her, and
packed her or TO college TO get her
away from them. She had barely en-
tered before she was expelled for
breaking the rules, managed to have
the expulsion exchanged TO suspension
ana rusticatcl her under the care Of
Mrs. Stetson. Mrs. Stetson has writ
ten me that Mabel has been getting let.
tiers from her lovers despite the fact
that Mrs. StetsOn has endeavored TO
intercept them. Did Mabel send you 10
me 10 ask for herr"
"Shc did"
you are the seventh person she has
sent TO me 10 ask for her I'm the past
six months. II had known that
young man had gone TO the same house
I'm the country as she | would have
warned him. Mrs. Stetson Is very
much to blame"
"No harm done assure you. Mrs
Mansfield" replied Barradale, out
wardly unrufiied. I'm just OF an age
10 cut my wisdom teeth. The expert
ence win surely he Of service 10 me-
81 wish You'd take her off my hands"
said the lady ruefully. The Others
have Iaa.. hnxgs a MI