Show LADY BLANCHE F FARM CHAPTER V VO O r MONDA MONDAY Y morning It t was w L still raining much too hard bard to attempt the unknown roads to Burlington There Thero was Blanche Blanch added to he b one ono of ot In- In Infrequent infrequent frequent dances In the town hall ball that evening It wa was stupid for tor ber tagging along alone with Paul and Mary even when they thoy were on good erms and anyone could see sec that Pau Paul was having one of ot I grouches crouches Pauls Paul's grouches crouches cor cor- cor c responded to his mothers mother's nerves And An none of ot the boys boy In the vII vii vii- i inee nee age seemed to realize that the she he was as old enough to be asked to go to parties by herself now flOW Well vp th the Lord ford for that said Philip lp piously Ill stay ot of course In the afternoon It cleared and he went vent to Violet hesitating a lit little tle tie and asked If It he Ir might Invite to go o for a little ride wIth hIm Why liy of or course she the said de delightedly de- de lIghte l Take one of ot the tho roads out to West They're very prett pretty and nOlI quiet I know our fine Vermont air Is going to do you lots of or good gorni You Toil look 1001 better al- al already al already rea ready y than when you ou came I 1 feel better said Philip Thanks awfully for tor letting me tale take Blanche Ill I'll take good care ot of her The route which Violet had su sug- sug was one which could easily be ere co covered In Lu two hours with the theold theold old family horse but no one seemed to think It worth a comment when Philip Phiiip and Blanche manche leaving the tho house a little before three reap reaD reappeared late for Cor a n six o'clock sup sup- supper supper supper per They had hail come corne to a little lake lak Silver Silver pond Blanche called It- It It and found an nn old water logged row row- rowboat row boat boat lying neglected beside It They balled bailed out the water In It with a tin can cnn found providentially near at hand They then rowe rowed about the lake for Cor a time and finally climbed a hill bill back of It where they sat cat and admired the vIew Philip had been laughing of ort off and andon andon lon on all the afternoon from sheer joy and when Blanche told one or of her little stories with perfect art art he laughed more than ever eer It seems seem so absolutely peaceful here he said Lets not hurry away Well we needn't of course replied Blanche If It it w wasn't for forthe forthe the dance Oh yes Jes the dance Will you I gIve me every other one onel I I think that's rather many per per- perhaps haps aps dont don't youl you r asked asi ea Blanche a n Oh no not at all I wouldn't wouldn dream of or asking for Cor less It Isn't Isn done Now Kow youre you're oure laughing at me mi again Had Ha any man Philip Wondered ever found a girl so unspoiled so utterly delicious It was difficult for him to refrain from taking her Into his arms then and there am and though somehow he mana managed ed to steel himself against doing this he reached out for the Ule little band hand that lay lightly on the extremely nar- nar narrow nar- nar narrow row strip of ot wood that separated separate him from Blanche lanche and locked hi his hard lean lenn fingers with willi her soft pink ones Nothing l that be he ha had ever experienced In his life Ufe had awakened In him such a feeling of ecstasy What what tremendous tremendous undeserved luck undeserved luck had hl been ben wit wIth him when he decided to take that tha swim swim I I II am so glad you agree ree with me m about the dances he said at las last rising reluctantly But nut I didn't agree 1 I Philip Phlip how ho can you ou Philip Phllip 1 I She had bad already begun begu to forget to call him Mr Starr lie He Heball Q had ball never known before what a wonderful name Philip was The Tho Th 10 slow drive rhe home nome was permeated j h ss 1 The Slow Drive How Homo Was Wa With Magic with magic Without knowing when or how he be had ha begun began to do so o Philip found that he was holdIng both Blanches Blanche's han hands s he felt her golden head sinking gently on hIs shoulder and rest there quIescent nt- nt The deepening dusk enfolding them seemed pregnant with the promIse ot of still closer companionship or more nr ardent embraces But nut the 1 h prelude to these was perfect and s complete In Itself Neither the return to the tho farm m nor Dor the family supper nor the th do- do departure for tor the party to which Blanche manche had hall looked forward to eagerly dispelled Philips Philip's illusion l ot of enchantment Of Ot course he got ot his dances Many of the alternate ones he be danced with fary All AU on the Lady Blanche farm were sorry when Philip said good od by bright and early Tuesday morn tag Ing Blanche manche to whom he had bad sug aug a n short walk through the or chard lifted brimming eyes eres to hIs C lie fie stooped and kissed the tears ar away from her lashes Then he be laid his cheek against ng hers bers This Isn't really good-by good you yon know be he whispered and added softly sweetheart Violets Violet's Violet farewell was likewise cc ac I by tears as well as b blittle by little pats an and cooing sounds Mary ary packed a II delicious lunch and laid lal a a I neatly folded toMed road map with PhI Phil P aI I IP'S Jp's route cI clearly marked In red re pencil on top of or his Ills suitcase The rhe Th day after r his Ills departure the station agent called up Violet to tell her that there was a b big box bos ad- ad addressed ad addressed dressed to her and marked perish perishable able express paid laid waiting there And when hen It was promptly howe home by and opened with some excitement It was found foun to four pound live hoes boxes or of candy fill all iii exactly alike but clabo elaborately elaborately tied tlell up with different colored rIbbons And nd under each elch bow how ot of i ribbon was supped slipped a card whIch read With kindest regards and many thanks for my wonderful vIsIt from Ih 11 P Starr As lane Jane Manning had never had lind a suitor this was the first filst box boy ot of candy that had ever er been Jeen given her herShe She tried to conceal her pleased sur- sur surprise sur surprise prise as long as liS she was with the others Then she sho carried the bo home very verJ carefully and put It on her bedsIde table near her Bible It did not occur to her to open It it She drew up tip her rocker an and sat for a aIon along along Ion long time looking at nt It It No Ko one but Jilt him would ever e have remembered me nie she said aloud at all let nione alone me candy nt at my age ago and an all nil tied up with red Int I ribbon I i That nice boy boyl I I she he ended iea abruptly anu an and blew her nose hard I The excitement aroused by the I boxes bores of or candy an and the pleasant butter bread letters which followed In their wake had hardly I subsided when something even mor more thrilling happened A beautiful him him- beside which Philips Philip's little runabout could no more ha have e stood comparison than linn could CInderella's pumpkin with the fairy coach Into which it wa was turne turned driven by a i slim young chauffeur very lery smart In Inn ina Ir l n a uniform to match the cars car's upholstery upholstery drew Hi tip I In front of or Seth door and n a tall tail looking man of early middle age got out and asked for Mary Iary It was unfortunately Moses oses who answered the rap at the ills us mouth was ns full of stolen sweets sweet he he had eaten up almost the en entire en- en entire tire contents of Marys Mary's box bo of ot cand candy I and and he had no ee eye for style lie He 1 I was not Impressed by the appearance appear appear- appearance ance of the strange man Moreover l I hIs own appearance could coul hardi hardly have hale warranted the hope that lie he might create a favorable fa ImpressIon i himself The day being warm and an Mary likewise occupied he had stir stir- sur i remo e removed 1 most of his hi I clothing In clothing In fact everything except c n a pair of ankle ties which hal had no n connection with modesty an and were 2 retained simply because the hemp carpet In the front hall hail was rough hello he said hello Er hello said the stranger his face twitching slightly Docs Miss Iss Mary Manning live here i Mary Iary Yes She's out In the back garden killing potato bugs buss that that way said Moses with a wave wa of the hand Indicating the direction tion which the tIme stranger should should take you Thank you very lery much said the theman theman man his mouth still twitchIng walking on off of In the direction Ind Indi cate Mary Iary hearing henring footsteps straIght straight- straightened ened up quickly from the task over ore which she was bent and turned a adeep adeep deep crimson Mr Ir she exclaimed In great Ireat confusion Oh you must ex- ex excuse a cuse me mel I When WIeD did you ou come I Just now from Boston he be said sale l laughing and shaking slinking bands hands I un- un unI understand t I you ou are more cor cordial Ial to t guests from Crom that locality than you yo once once gave ga me nie to understand you I were likely to be I have had the th pleasure of meetIng er er meeting one c ot of your your small brothers and he told me meI meI I should probably find you ou here ben Arent Aren't you rou glad to see me Moses roses I Oh what dreadful thin thing was ho lie doing this time Yes Tes ot of c course I am but but but- buther her flush groT grow grow- growIng ing log deeper every minute This time I came because Philip Starr asked askell me mo to Naturally I didn't tell him how glad I was of ot nn an a excuse lie He thinks Im I'm doing It eD en- en ci out of friendship to him him- him him- only Its It's great luck for me that thi he h happened to fall in love with wit your cousin It'll get Hannah and me Into touch with you agaIn agaIn- Philip Is a young man of unusual thoroughness promptness and aDIl d do- do cislon as ns you may have ha gathered In n your our glimpse of qualities hIm him which unfortunately are not often found In one who Is also an nn artist and an Idealist Moreover he po pos pos- possesses possesses Besses a n very fine sense of ot honor H lie He seems to he be In a tremendous hurry but didn't think It right to press his suit until he had bee been more thoroughly Introduced I w was Instructed In that as soon as this for tor formality malIty through me had been ac ac- ac accomplished a I was to telegraph tele him himat at nt Burlington and he be would return here unless here unless of ot course It seem seemed absolutely hopeless for tor him to do SO Is Is there any reason why It should be bo hC None one In the tir world Then come como over and meet CousIn Violet All An right replied Gale Galo with twinkling eyes yes But ber that afterwards Im I'm coming back ba here bere to see sel youl you I S S Inthe Two days later Philip stood In Inthe 1 the white paneled north parlor ot of i Violet Iolet oti Mannings Manning's house waiting for Blanche to come down to him Time The room was unlighted and i iwas It was be- be beginnIng beginning b ginning to grow dark darl Tho The door opened and Blanche Blanci came In In Philip took a step stell towards her and held out his arms alms She walked straight into them Lady Blanche you Blanche you little whIte flower Oh flower Oh my darling was all he said and covered her lifted fac face with his kisses TO BE CONTINUED |