Evening capital and Maryland gazette., 1918-01-09
MISSION ENIGMA
By MILDRED WHITE.
tcopgFleat. lsi7. westeFa Newspaper Iale

uaetgrusively seated herself at the
long supper Aable She was, in some
indehnahle way, different from the
throug Of girls who waited sinllingy
chattering together for the evenings
sfree meal"
The keen eyes Of Reverend Philip
noted the neatness OF her worn little
blue suit. the unmistakable aiTe
about the simple turban. What was
she doing hereg The girls wide eyes
seemed 10 join him ia the question as
they wandered inquiringly about The
room.
Il have been interested in you" his
frank. pheasant voice addressed, her,
"and wondered II / might be Of any
service. Though the ofIer may seem
a pIesuming one, You may realize that
il is only those in need who accept
our hospitality
/ The girl hesitated, then her clear
gaze met his. Thanks she replied.
I ''my need, hope, is only temporary"
"You are q strangersr. he asked.
She nodded. Il come, as you may
suppose, from country town. r."
she laughed softly, hope one day 10
be a successful writer. but the time is
long in coming. : few accepted mag
azine stories encouraged me, but now"
she paused eloquently-I watt
Better 20 back home, the curate
advised, "the city is not kind to those
who wait"
The girl looked back at him. y
have no home,n she answered simply,
"that went-when my father died
She had gone before he could form
a reply, and All night with troubled
| persistency the sweet face haunted
him. AS had become his habit. he con.
fidea in the morning his concern to
his mother.
Y0u may have another opportunity
Of speaking 10 the girl at the next
mission supper, his mother suggested.
IF sou do, persuade her to call upon
rag" but she was absent at the follow.
Ing "Free meal 10 needy girls.
Philip missed her with a pang, the
I eagegness with which he had looked
forward to the meeting was mex.
| piicable. Could Ii he possible that
she was now ia actual want Ponder
ing the question be entered upon some
errand the city's greatest department
! store.
Swaying toward him down the aisle
came graceful figure. His eye had
! barely become aware Of the velvet
suit with the luxurious furs, the cost
" picture hat deftly placed upon wavy
..-r.s,. f.,,.+sFsf1r /, fa,4,l tF,e
| girl OF the mission returning his star.
/ tied gaze from beneath its tilted brim.
| The childish eyes We're skilfully dark
ened like those of an actress, the
cameo paleness touched with rouge
the lips painted to a Cupids bow.
| The curate stood indignant before
her. what" he asked fierceIy, re
! gardless, docs al this meanT
u viii explain tomorrow" she an
swered, sat the free supper Then
head erect. with her proud sway, she
moved on.
Reverend Philip had no expectation
Of seeing her at the supper; what was
her object in deceiylng? "a social
worker or investigator OF missions
would not. he mused savagely, paint
/ herself up like a Christmas DOLL And
at this point the girl entered, seating
| herself again atpt end OF the mis-
sion table. Compelling hunger was
| evidenced in her absorption 20 her
neal the worn little suit again
clothed her trim figure. Reverend
Philip at last claimed her attention.
"Wenfn he asked briefly.
The girl smiled inyoluntarily, her
(, pale face was very beautiful again,
He felt its magnetic power.
"you want. she asked, "an ex-
I PLANTATION Of this Mission Cinderellaf
/ Wei. ] come, because SO Tar, nay writ.
ings cover room rent, but with the
K best management the food supply
keeps low"
she arose and her eyes filed with
I tears. Once in awhile she said. Il
must have a real meal"
Before he could divine her purpose
The girl had again eluded him, slipping
back from her place into the crowd.
Recalessly tie eufate followed, the
I torlneB9ng enigma must be solved;
/ bug she was not III sight when he
reached Che street Baaed there ia
the darkness he told himself he was
fool for lis pains, yet ID this very line
his daly lay. Il was q chance hope
4 which took him next day to the same
department store, aud his usually
/ even heart seemed to cease beating as
she again came toward him. Above the
white ormine Of her costly cloak the
girls face showed dismay Reso-
iuteiy he blocked her pathway.
Now. he demanded, "the explana-
Hong
She S. Sc, elancing about in trepis
| dation. u had to 10 something for
money at once.v she said ~They call
me 'manikin' mere. I display the
latest toilets-every afternoon in the
store. Il is advertised did not
wish to admit thisto you she I'm
ished and passed On her way.
Reverend Philip fingered, smile
upon his lips. = did not wish to adj
nit ito you. she had said. her
voice breaking fremul0usly.
When she came forth ia the little
dark suit he claimed her arm posses
siyely. You are coming home with
me" ne said my mother win dnd a
way out of all your perplexities, ans
/ want my mother to know you
Grayely the girls eyes regarded him,