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Show BEAVER PRESS Ladty Blanche Fa A Romance of the Commonplace By Frances Parkinson ICeyes WKV Service Copyright by France Parkinson Eeyei SYNOPSIS Motoring through Vermont, Philip Starr, young Boston architect, meets, in unconventional fashion, Blanche Manning, girl of seventeen, with whom he Is immediately enamored. In conversation, he learns something of her family history. It being a long distance to Burlington, Starr's destination, Blanche suggests, the village of Ham-stea- d not boasting a hotel, that he become, for the night, a guest of her cousin, Mary Manning. Mary receives Philip with true Vermont hospitality, and he makes the acquaintance of her cousin Paul, recognized as her fiance. Starr finds Mary ta acquainted with Gale Hamlin, noted Boston architect, in whose office Piiilip Is employed. He informs her of his desire to win Blanche for his wife. She is sympathetic, and tells him of an old familv superstition concerning the "Blanches" of the Manning is family. Paul Inclined to be dissipated, notManning realizing Mary's true worth. Mary's reproaches for his undue "conviviality" are badly received by Paul, and the girl begins to have misgivings as to the wisdom of the alliance. Starr's disclosure of the fact that he is the son of a Congregational minister, and of his financial standing, establish him ift the Manning family's regard. CHAPTER V Continued S It was, unfortunately, Moses who answered the ro'j at the knocker. His mouth was full of stolen sweets he had eaten up almost the entire contents of Mary's box of candy and he had no eye for style. Fie was not Impressed by the appearance of the strange man. Moreover, his own appearance could hardly have warranted the hope that he might create a favorable impression himself. The day being warm, and Mary otherwise occupied, he had surreptitiously removed most of his clothing In fact, everything except a pair of ankle ties, which had no connection with modesty and were retained simply because the hemp carpet In the front hall was consciously or unconsciously by many persons. Violet herself was largely responsible for this. She went about among her neighbors scattering her good news as she went. "Of course, Blanche is very young, and it breaks my heart to think of parting with her," she said, sighing and wiping away a few tears. "But I couldn't bring myself to stand in the way of the true happiness of one of my children for selfish reasons. That's never been my way. Of course Blanche Is too Innocent about worldly things and too much in love to think of the material side at all, but we older ones know that can't be overlooked altogether. Philip can do everything for her. Yes, her ring Is lovely, isn't it? You seldom see such pure, white diamonds. And he's given her a pendant, too a diamond star! Wasn't that a pretty thought, and so clever! Philip Is clever, unusually so. He says the name she'3 going to have, Blanche Starr, Is a poem Just in Itself. No, Philip won't hear of a long en gagement, so I'm going to take Blanche to Boston right away, to buy her trousseau, and see caterers and sta tioners and so on. I guess I can show his fashionable friends that I know how things should be done, even if I do live in the country! They're going to California on their wedding trip of course Philip would have taken Blanche to Europe if this tire some war hadn't been going on, Blanche is going to keep a maid, and rough. "Hello," he said. "Er hello," said the stranger, his face twitching slightly. "Does Miss Mary Manning live here?" "Mary? Yes. She's out In the back garden, killing potato bugs . . .that way," said Moses, with a wave of the hand, Indicating the direction which the stranger should take. "Thank you very much," said the man, his mouth still twitching, walking off In the direction Indicated. Mary, hearing footsteps, straightened up quickly from the task over which she was bent, and turned a deep crimson, "Mr. i Hamlin!" she exclaimed, in great confusion. "Oh, you must excuse me! When did you come?" "Just now, from Boston," he said, laughing and shaking hands. "I understand you are more cordial to guests from that locality than you once gave me to understand you were likely to be. I have had the pleasure of ei" meeting one of your small brothers, and he told me I should probably find you here. Aren't you glad to see me?" "Moses! Oh, what dreadful thing was he doing this time? Yes, of course I am, but" her flush growing deeper every minute. "This time I came because Philip Starr asked me to. Naturally. I didn't tell him how glad I was of an excuse. He thinks I'm doing It entirely out of friendship to him only, It's great luck, for me, that he happened to fall In love with your cousin. It'll get nannah and me Into touch with you again Philip is a young man of unusual thoroughness, promptness and decision, as you may have gathered In your glimpse of him qualities which, unfortunately, are not often found In one who Is also an artist and an Idealist. Moreover, he possesses a very fine sense of honor. He seems to be in a tremendous hurry, but didn't think it right to press his suit until he had been more thoroughly Introduced. I was Instructed that as soon as this formality, through me, had been accomplished, I was to telegraph him at Burlington,1 and he would return here unless, of course, It seemed absolutely hopeless for him to do so." "Is there any reason why It should be hopeless?" "None In the world." "Then come over and meet Cousin Violet." "All right," replied Gale Hamlin with twinkling eyes. "But remember that afterwards I'm coming back here to see you!" - Blanche You Little Flower." White girl-twi- have a motor, right from the beginning. Of course, all Philip's friends and' he has thousands of them will entertain for her and give her a beautiful time. Philip Is charming, and that's so rare in a man! He Is so thoughtful and pleasant always. I simply adore him myself. . . ." There was not a single flaw in the crystaL Violet could purr on for hours. In fact Hamstead grew a little tired of so much perfection and so much purring. Nevertheless, in spite of some expressions of disparagement, Mrs. Elliott and all Hamstead with her. flocked to see the trousseau, and then the presents, and, in early August, to the wedding. During the two months and a half that had elapsed since his first appearance there, Philip had spent every Sunday and holiday at Lady Blanche farm, and, as Mrs. Elliott said, had been so "pleasant-spoken- " that he had become cordially liked In the village; and. In turn, he had come to have a very warm and real affection for many of his new friends and relatives. Only twice had his dream of perfect happiness been shaken; and he tried to dismiss both of these episodes from his mind as trivial. Left alone for a time one rainy morning, he had decided to explore the little, abandoned law office. He had been thinking what fun it would be to restore it, and put It In order for Blanche and himself to occupy when they came to Hamstead to visit. It contained a cellar and two large, semicircular rooms, one above the other, and a small cne with a little attic over It In the rear. He sat In one of the dilapidated chairs, pulled up a shaky table, and drew plans and sketches. Under his swift pencil, the tiny place became transformed. There was the living room, bright with white paint and a landscape paper, and shining brasses, with Lady Blanche's portrait over the mantel, her desk In one corner, her harpsichord in another, and her mahogany table In the center of the room ; there was the chamber, with her bed one of her linen sheets serving for a counterpane her bureau with Its crystal lusters for for his own Blanche, her low-bo- y dressing table, her long mirror, and the sampler she had stitched, on the flowered walls Instead of pictures. He spent a long time over his pleasant task. Then, finding that Blanche, who had promised to Join him there, was still nowhere In sight he picked up some of the musty books lying on the table, and began to look through them. They were mostly law books, with a few interesting marginal notes that the second Moses Manning had made; but Philip knew little or nothing about law, and did not understand them. The third volume that he opent-d- , less bulky thnn the others, proved to be a county history, written by a local clergyman early in the Nineteenth century. The Connecticut valley had gate-legge- d four-poste- d Two days later, Philip stood In the north parlor of Violet Manning's house, waiting for Blanche to come down to him. The room was white-panele- "Lady d unllghted, and it was grow dark. The door opened and in, Philip took a step and held out his arms. straight Into them. "Lady Blanche you beginning to Blanche came towards her, She walked little white flower Oh, my darling!" was all he said, and covered her lifted face with his kisses. CHAPTER VI Philip Starr would never have dreamed of considering his comfortable Income a fortune. But It loomed large In the eyes of Lady Blanche farm, and soon In those of all the country side, for In thf general at the good luck which had befallen Blanche, it was augmented been settled by men of no slight cali ber, and their subsequent Revolution ary record was noteworthy. Philip read on with increasing interest which grew greater still when he reached that portion of the history devoted mainly to the Manning family, Here were Moses Manning's fine war service the trip to France and here, too, was the Countess Blanche! The story of the great chests that came over the sea. And, at last, came the date of the twins' birth, and, a few pages farther on, that of Lady Blanche's death. But between these dates was something that Philip had not yet heard. . . . And the Lady Blanche, being very weak after her long travail, was sorely spent, for she was a female elegantly formed, but not sturdy, or of sound health. She lay In great pain, and ever and anon she sank Into a stupor from which none could rouse her, nor did she regard my exhorta tion, or the lamentations of her af fllcted husband. But suddenly she did speak in a loud voice, saying, 'Since I must die, neither shall any other woman in this village who beareth twins survive her cruel labor; and though I perish, there shall be, in every generation, a Blanche Manning on this farm, who shall have not only my name, but in whom my person shall also be seen again. And she shall wed for love, being hotly wooed, even as I was wooed, by a stranger. But because I have suffered, for all my love. In this unfriendly, cold country, and because he who swore to love me best has not saved me from an guish, but hath shown his love to be but selfishness, since he hath failed me when I most did need him there fore, I say, she shall not love for long, Within five years of her marriage either she or her husband shall die, and die with the bitter knowledge that neither riches nor passion nor high romance, nay, not even all three to gether, suffice to make that great thing called love unless there be other things, which my lover hath not given me, added unto them. And, In the hour of their death, I will appear unto those who die, and comfort them, for the manner of their passing shall be lonely and grievous altogether.' "And thereat," went on the chron icler, "she lay back upon her bed in peace, and did not speak again. And we marveled greatly that one so gentle should seek, in her last moments, to lay a curse upon her Innocent de scendants." Philip closed the book, shivering. and angry and ashamed because he was shivering. That silly old superstition what did it amount to! But had it amounted to anything? He began, Involuntarily, to recall the histories of other members of the Manning family. The countess the second Blanche had married a Virginian, a classmate of her broth er's at Harvard, who was shot, after they had had only a few radiant months together, in a duel with the man who had once been his best The lawyer, Moses, had a friend. daughter named Blanche, who went west in a prairie schooner on her honeymoon, and was never heard of again after she passed the Alleghenies. And the lawyer's eldest son had a daughter who but that story was too dreadful, and contained shame as well as tragedy. Feeling as If his throat were being clutched, and as If he could not shake himself free of the hand that choked him, Philip sprang to his feet to see an apparition standing in the doorway. Blanche also had been spending her time that rainy morning by making an excursion Into the past. Her moth er had felt It a good opportunity for them to go through some of the chests carefully stowed away In the attic In search of treasures to add to her trousseau and they had found a trunk, thrust far un tiny der the eaves and forgotten, full of the countess' clothes; Blanche had carried them down to her bedroom and tried thpm on. They fitted her as If they had been made for her. "Couldn't I keep one of them on, and surprise Philip?" "I think It would be lovely! And you- can do your hair like hers in the portrait, and wear that white brocade dress that she had It painted In you'd be the living Image of her!" Accordingly, after a careful study of the famous picture, Blanche did her hair, with Violet's help, high on her head, powdered it, laced herself Into the stiff, magnificent gown that had been the countess' wedding dress, and went out to Join Philip. The startled, almost terrified cry that escaped hlra when he saw her frightened her almost out of her senses. She ran to him, and put her arms around him, trembling, too. "What Is Itr she exclaimed. "Oh, Philip! What's the matter?" "Nothing nothing. . . . How love ly you look ! . . . Are those some of the first Blanche's clothes?" "Yes. Don't you think they're hand-wove- n d iron-boun- n people who wish me to sell their dresses and to examine each garment carefully to determine whether it la likely to have a quick turnover. If I think not, nothing will induce me to handle it" As a result of this careful "editing" there are hanging on her racks no extreme creations that would have an appeal only to a few whose taste is especially unconventional. But there are many beautiful evening wraps, sports ensembles, gowns EDDIE, THE AD MAN ARRY BICkEJJKOOPSFL SIUCE HE PUT IU THAT AD ABOUT FRESH LAID FARM EGGS, HIS HEUS NAVE . BEm COMPELLED TO LAY TUO EGG? PEKPXiEAZU, TO KEEP ORDERS FILLED "Father said I would cough my head off. I SJ wai frightened. But mother laughed and eava me Bron- - At your druggist's. For FREE sample, write to 732 Ceres Ave., Lo Angelee. HOW TO STOP A COLD QUICK AS YOU CAUGHT IT Method Doctors Everywhere Are Advising A New FOLLOW , DIRECTIONS PICTURED BELOW Western Newspaper Union. 1933, SELLS FINE GOWNS AT SECOND HAND If throat is sore, crush and dissolve 3 Bayer Aspirin Tablets in a half Woman Finds Customers for Discarded Finery. The business of selling secondhand clothing, lon in disrepute, has been "glorified" by a New York woman, Mrs. Genevieve Berkeley, who is making a success of a shop where she displays only "discarded wardrobes." She calls her store "The Dressing Room," and has made a commercial as well as artistic success of the venture. She buys her stock from wealthy New York women who do not care to be seen in the same gown at society affairs more than a few times, or from those who, having had a dress made for them, finally realize that the color is definitely unbecoming, or from actresses who feel that their wardrobe must be kept as as the morning's newspaper, despite the resulting depletion of the bank account Mrs. Berkeley Is fortunate in having a wide acquaintance among such women ; as a matter of fact, she was an actress herself when she decided to start her novel business. She has never had any difficulty In locating clothes of the type she needs; the trouble has been, she says, to refrain from taking certain of the dresses her wealthy patrons wish her to take. "I make It a rule," she writes in the American Magazine, "always to call personally at the homes of the Take 1 or 2 Bayer Aspirin Tablets. Drink Full Class of gtaas of warm water and gargle according to directions. Water. Almost Instant Relief In This Way If you have a cold don't take chances with "cold killers" and nostrums. A cold is too dangerous to take chances on. The simple method pictured above is the way doctors throughout the world now treat colds. It is recognized as the QUICKEST, safest, surest way. For it will check an ordinary cold almost as fast as you caught it That is because the real BAYER Aspirin embodies certain medical qualities that strike at the base of a cold almost INSTANTLY. and dissolved in a half glass of warm water, repeating every 2 or 3 hours as necessary. Sore throat eases this way in a few minutes, incredible as this may seem. Ask your doctor about this. And when you buy, see that you get the real BAYER Aspirin Tablets. They dissolve almost instantly. And thus work almost instantly when you take them. And for a gargle, Genuine Bayer Aspirin Tablets dissolve with sufficient speed and completeness, leaving no irritating particles or grittiness. Get a box of 12 or bottle of 100 at any drug store. You can combat nearly any cold you get simply by taking BAYER Aspirin and drinking plenty of water every 2 to 4 hours the first day and 3 or 4 times daily thereafter. If throat is sore, gargle with 3 BAYER Aspirin Tablets crushed NO TABLETS ARE GENUINE T. BAYER ASPIRIN WITHOUT THIS CROSS A WICKED CRIME WINTER PLOTS THE VICTIMS: Those Motors Using Ordinary Oil that Drains Away from Heated Working Surfaces. THE TIME S Those Cold Starting O, Minutes While Precious Motor Parts Must Run Dry at Warming Speed Until Oil Is Pumped from Below. d Process (exclniiT Coooco patent) imparts to a 1 ??Ki THE QUART V THAT STAYS UP - pretty?" and coats, obviously, expensive. and bearing the most fashionable labels, all priced at a fraction of their original cost. , You you're "Beautiful, darling. very like her, aren't you? Like her picture, of course, I mean." Yes but I don't see why you seem so upset, even If I am. I thought It would please you to see me dressed up like this!" Philip forced a laugh. "I'm not up set," he said pleasantly. "You startled me a little, that's all. You're you're enough to startle any man, you're so lovely. I want a kiss and I want to consult you about something. . . And then he told her of his scheme for fixing up the little office. To his surprise, she did not respond to him with enthusiasm. At first she looked a little bored. Then she Interrupted him with a petulance which shocked him. TO Bft CONTINtlBO IN YOUR MOTOR in,. :2 AND NEVER DRAINS AWAY this motor oil that peculiar ability to penetrate tod combine with metal surface. Of the first tilling ibont on quart will hide" ititlf up ia your motor's precious working parts. This bidden quart drains away. It be comes a part of the 'SmT motor itself ; worth its weight In gold. The One Oil that Gives You Xf Perfect Protection for Winter's Worst Days Ahead Drip! trickle! drip! through long night hours, ordinary oil drains away. When the pump quits, ordinary oil quits, leaving the motor's parts high and dry. You touch the starter. The motor roars. The pump strains at the sluggish oil. It is only a few minutes till circulation is completed. But, in the meantime, "working surfaces only partly lubricated are in contact, while the motor makes three to five thousand revolutions. This causes 50 of all motor wear. O W if W CONOCO TRAVEL BUREAU, DENVER . . .WITE FOR Prevent this loss. Choose not merely a quick oil, but an oil that never leaves. Choose the oil with the "hidden quart that penetrates and combines with the metal surfaces of the motor itself. In the emergency of an empty crankcase, users have driven many miles, without damage, on this hidden quart alone. This proves that your motor neednever uffer while waiting upon the pump. Don't remain in doubt. Drain and refill with the 'hidden quart oil today. Uli FREE PASSPORT, MAPS (i. TRIP PLANNING SERVICE . |