.
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A Romance of the
Commonplace
SERRE.
By Frances
Parkinson Keyes
WNU Service
Copyright by Frances Parkinson Keyes
SYNOPSIS
Motoring through Vermont, Philip
Starr, young Boston architect, maels,
in unconventional fashion, Blanche
Manning, girl of seventeen, with whom
he is immediately enamored. In con-
versation, he learns something of her
family history. It being a long distance
to Burlington, Starr's destination,
Blanche suggests, the village of Ham-
stead not boasting a hotel, that he be-
come, 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 Is acquainted with
Gale Hamlin, noted Boston rchitect
in whose office Philip is employed, He
informs her of his desire to win
Blanche for his wife, She is sympa-
thetic, and tells him of an old family
superstition concerning the “Blanches”
of the Manning family. Paul Manning is
inclined to be dissipated, not
Mary's true worth, Mary's repr
for his undue “conviviality"”
received by Paul, and the girl
to have misgivings as to the w
of the alliance. Starr's disclosure «
the fact that } the son
gEregational rr and
nancial stand
Manning family
are
isdom
Con-
CHAPTER V—Continued
s——
It was, unfortunately, Moses
answered the rap at the knocker.
mouth was full of stolen sweets—he
had eaten up almost the entire con.
tents of Mary's box of candy—and he
had no eye for style. He was not im-
pressed by the appearance of the
strange man. Moreover, his own ap-
pearance could hardly have warranted
the hope that he might create a favor-
able impression himself. The day be
ing warm, and Mary otherwise occu
pled, he had surreptitiously removed
most of his
thing except a pair of ankle
which had no connect
and were retained simply be
hemp carpet in the front
rough.
“Hello,” he said.
“Er—nhello,” , his
face twitching i “Does Miss
Mary Manning live
“Mary?
garden, killing 1
way,” sald Moses,
hand, indicating
the stranger shou
“Thank
man, his
ing off in the direction indicates
Mary, hearing footsteps, htened
up quickly from the ta
she was bent, and turned
son.
“Mr.
great
Cuse
who
His
clothing—in fact, every:
ties
yn with modesty
sald the stranger
Yes. She's out in the back
you very much,” said
month
moun
the
walk
Hamlin!" she
confusion, “Oh, ;
me! When did you
“Just now, from
laughing and shaking
derstand you are more
guests from that loeali
once gave me to understand you were
likely to be. I have had the pleasure
of—er—meeting one of your small
brothers, and he told me I should
probably find you here. Aren't
glad to see me?”
“Moses! Oh,
was he ng this
course I am, but—" her flush
deeper every minute,
“This time I
Starr asked
didn't tell ]
exe He thinks I'm doing
ly out of friendship to h
great luck, for me, that
to fall in love with ;
get Hannah and m
you Philip Is a 3
Joston,™
hands,
ty
you
what dreadful
thing
Yes, of
growing
doin
time?
came
me to. Naturally, 1
him how of an
use, entire
only, it's
mippened
It'll
with
cousin
touch
again— ung man of
unusual thoroughness, promptness and
decision, as you may have gathered in
your glimpse of him—qualities which,
unfortunately, are not found in
one who is also an artist and an ideal-
ist.
sense of
i
often
Moreover, he possesses a very fine
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. 1
was instructed that as soon as this for-
mality, through me, had been accom-
plished, I was to telegraph him at
jurlington, and he would return here
--tinless, of course, it seemed absolute.
ly hopeless for him to do so.”
“Is there any reason why it should
be hopeless?’
“None in the world.”
“Then come over and
Violet”
“All right,” replied Gale
with twinkling eyes, ‘But
that afterwards I'm coming
to see you!" ‘
. -. . * - - -
Two days later, Philip stood in the
white-paneled north parlor of Violet
Manning's house, waiting for Blanche
to come down to him.
unlighted, and It was
grow dark,
The door opened and Blanche came
in, Philip took a step towards her,
and held out his arms. She walked
straight into them,
“Lady Blanche—you little white
flower—Oh, my darling!” was all he
sald, and covered her lifted face with
his kisses,
meet Cousin
Hamlin
remember
back here
The room was
beginning to
CHAPTER VI
Phillp Starr would never have
dreamed of considering his comforts
able Income a fortune. Bot it loomdd
large In the eyes of Lady Blanche
farm, and soon In those of all the
country side, for in the general re.
Joleing at the good luck which had be-
fallen Blanche, it was augmented--
’
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 sald, 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 over
looked altogether. Philip ean 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's 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 caterers and sta-
tloners and so on. 1 guess I ean show
his fashionable friends that I know
how things should be done, even if 1
live in the country!-—They're go-
ing to California on their wedding
trip—of course Phillp would have
taken Blanche to Europe if this tire
war hadn't been going on
Blanche Is going to keep a maid, and
see
do
some
7
wane
“Lady Blanche—You Little
Flower.”
White
ive 8 motor,
Of course
right fron
Philig
ng
ing. all
thst
80 rare
’
ful and pleasant
y adore him myself
here was not a single flaw
al Violet could
of
1 purring.
Nevertheless, In
tired
much
spite
ressions of disparagement,
and all Hamstead
flocked to see the troussean.
r
b
Hott
the presents, and, in early
the wedding. During the
and a half that i
first appearance there, P p
months
his
had
and holi y at
two
elapsed since
spent every Sut
Lady Blanche Mrs
Elliott said, had “pleasant.
spoken™ that he had become cordially
turn, he
warm and
new
many of his
ce had
Only
perfect happiness been
both
is mind as
as
liked in the village: and, In
had come to have a
real affection for
friends and relatives
his dream of
shaken: and he tried to
of these episodes
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 large,
semicircular rooms, one above the other,
and a small one 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 shin-
ing brasses, with Lady Blanche's por-
trait over the mantel, her desk In one
corner, her harpsichord In another,
and her gate-legged mahogany table
in the center of the room: there was
the chamber, with her four-posted bed
-one of her hand-woven linen sheets
serving for a counterpane-—her bu-
reau with its crystal lusters for
Blanche, her low-boy for hig own
dressing table, her long gilt-framed
mirror, and the sampler she had
stitched, on the flowered walls Instead
of pictures,
He spent a long time over his pleas.
ant 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 throtgh
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 opened, loss
bulky than the others, proved to be a
county history, written by a loeal
clergyman early in the Nineteenth
century. The Connecticut valicy had
yory
tw
dismiss
f
irom
two
been settled by men of no sight call
ber, and their subsequent Revolution-
ary record was noteworthy, Philip
read on with increasing Interest,
which grew greater still when hae
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, ut 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 regard my exhorta
tion, or the lamentations of her af
flicted husband. But suddenly she did
speak In a loud ing, 'Since
I must die, neither any
woman in this village
twins survive
though 1
every generation, a
on this farm,
my name, but in
shall also
shall wed for love, being
even as 1
jut because I ha
my love, In this unfriendly, col
try, and because he who sworedo
me has not me from
guish, but hath his to
but selfishness, since he hath failed
me when I most did need h
fore, 1 say, she shall not love for long
Within years of her marriage
either she or her die,
and die with the bitter knowledge that
neither riches nor high
romance, nay, three
gether, suffice to grent
thing called le unless there be other
things, which m3
me, added unto them And, In
hour of their death will appear
she
volee, say
shall other
who beareth
labor: and
shall be, In
Manning
her cruel
perish, there
Blanche
who shall have not only
whom my
Amd
per On
be seen ag she
was wooed,
love
an
he
best saved
shown love
iim—there
five
shall
hushand
nor passion
=
not even all to
make that
ve
ver hath not given
tho
unto
those who die for
the ms
lonely
“And
ieler,
pe uce,
we mi
tle
to
were
could
hand
to his feet
in the
Blanche
st
not
that
ing
alan
time that ra
an ¢x
er ha
them
3 =
attic In sear
her tronsse
tiny
der
fron-boun
the
the
carried them
and tried them on
if they had been
“Conldn’t
and surprise
can do
portrait, an«
dress that she had
be the living image
Accordingly, after study
of the famous picture, Blanche did
her hair, with Violet's help. high on
her head, powdered It, herself
into the stiff, magnifl that
had been the countess’ wedding dress,
and went out to join Philip
The almost terrified
that escaped him
frightened her almost out
senses. She ran to him. and put
arms around him, trembling,
“What Is it? exclaimed
Philip! What's matter?
“Nothing
ly you look!
the first
“Yes,
pretty?
“Beautiful, darling. You-~you're
very like her, aren't you? Like her
pieture, of course, I mean.”
“Yes—bnt 1 don't see why you seem
80 upset, even If I am. I thought It
would please you to see me dressed
up like thisg!™
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. 1 want a kigs—and | want to
consult yon about something. . . ®
And then he told her of his scheme
fof 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 in-
terrupted him with a petulance which
shocked him,
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
You
a careful
laced
ent gown
startled
whe
he as
{oo
she “Oh.
the
nothing How love
Are those some of
Blanche's clothes?”
Don't think
you they're
Teen is a vast amount of shir
ring, tucking, we
and might add,
braiding going on in the realm of cos-
tume design tod: Every once in a
while creator: of nur styles-beautiful
do just that—del-e irto the past for
inspiration,
This time researc fashions
f yore has cause entors of our
03 i
styles-beautiful to feel ¢ urge
to ahirr
or tuck or
a trimming
news from
successful
ther s!
1
eavy sheers and chi
nthus
rm with
guit of shirred heavy sheer
Oe blouse shown
weed
te the practical he
fives
thus tun the
costume irk of the
Substitute fo satin
match
tnred
louse a frilly affair of | ' OF
chiffon, or a vet in some intrigu-
paste] tint and this lovely ensem-
takes on the air of & most he-
afternoon costume which is
its way to a bridge party, per-
haps, or tea at fashionable
rendezvous or a matinee
or any of the smart gatherings where
to dress pictorial-
ing
ing
ble
guiling
on
some
musicale, a
guests
are expected
You + other frock here ple-
first
black chif
does at very
tu-ked .
1 city is posi-
really ultra
gh style is
orzandie se
are to
furbelows
‘ faq ia
t IaRI0Ou Ss
fOVes
is
fie
IT'S FINE BRIMS
OR SWELL TOQUES
brim fir ir
swell f lean to
lors, that's all right, If
If you lika
yon pre
tal
Fou
antic hats
fer toques
lored sa
node of the
may
that
and still be
you
givin
ou way wear shallow
doen ones You nu
wide eapeline hats
Crowns, or
or
wear se
wenr berets
Ou may
vere sallors or Toarkish fezzes
It's all t
For
in every one of
die.
models
And
correct
pereenble the stvie
tators they're presentin
ench one is new, they sn
The new
are Smnrt-——esnec
high back tricorne toques
ialiy one of black felt
with a stitched cuff of black =ilk shan-
tung, a self-bow and a scroll-patterned
For your sports things, you'll want
casual brimmed hats
Fancy Striped Suitings
Men's wear houses are surprised to
Inirline flannels and pin
head checks with plain companions
are best sellers for the tailored spring
In these, mannish oxfords and
other grays are strong.
Worsted twill is another mannish
woolen type that is being sponsored
Crisp, springy and ideal for tailoring.
worsted twill reaches its heights in
that old-fashioned tan tone most close.
ly associated with twills of the past.
Milliners Are Stressing
Colored Ribbon Trimming
Milliners are emphasizing multi
color ribbon trimmings, often In erude
combination, such as yellow, vivid
green and black, or else nn combina.
tion like orange, green and pavy.
Talbot combines pale gray with tur.
quoige (both of which colors are high
style favorites), using this combina.
tion for one of her high-crowned di
rectoire gallors,
Tiny crin horsehair veils and tor
tolse shell motifs are among the smart
millinery trimmings,
ULTRA CHIC “LINES”
Bry t HERIE NICHOLAS
To the uninitinted this evening wrap
made of cherry colored matelasse vel
vet may seem n bit quaint but to those
who know, it is an ultra modern fash.
fon. It qualifies as such in that firstly
it is the new fingertip length. See
ondly its full sleeves are crinoline
lined so as to give the broad-shoul
dered look which style leaders say we
must have, Thirdly its colinrless neck-
line buttons close up nbout the throat
which obeys the latest edict of fashion,
Lastly but of outstanding significance
is the fact that the velvet of which It
is made is the very new matelasse
type which Is sort of erinkly sur
faced. The handsome jeweled buttons
also convey an important style mes
sage. With the younger set particu.
larly this type of wrap Is meeting
with high favor.
WHAT ANNA WAS
A professor was
or less eager ears
oceaccio and the
of Aquinis,
The class wns
version of the
about to close,
was,
| may
vernacular”
telling to more
the facts about
indiscreet Anna
lulled by his gentle
affalr, ontil he was
when he sald: “Anna
you nust fl—well-if
lapse into
know,
the extreme modern
his eves gt this point
the cinss sat
the
“what | ean only «
gleamed wickedly and
up-—"she continued pro
fessor holdly, all
-—a flirt !"—Tit-Bits Magazine,
USES HIS HEAD
set slipped,
fell from the
“What kept in the
pp—using sour head?
Miss Sharpe, but
balioon.”
never
you air, Mr.
Sa
Seasoning
A sixth-grade teacher ha
long list of words on the
ning to and interpret
‘synonyi
“5% hi 5
All memt
smew hat
Time for Insurance
i roolit
Going In for Beauty
fe-——] don’t like the
Modern Problem
st § rain d
om Is going to
nop +
VU
IN ALL LINES
ii ii
IX2
bdsm
Wifle— Women are to be found
me tell vou, in all Kinds of business
Hubby~Quite truoe—incinding all
that their own
el
hose ure not
A Glad Time
Blank (meeting niece on street) —-
Well, my dear, back in town. eh?
Having a good time-—lots going on,
what?
Niece Oh, uncle, absolutely hectic!
I've just been to a “lecture luncheon,”
a “reading circle tea” and now I'm off
to an "uplift party.”"-—London (*unch.
Seratchy
“What was the most difficult part of
post office?”
“Writing with the post office pens.”
“O Promise Me”
Hubby (reading)-Yknow, |
{ike all this metaphorical stuff,
der what exactly this writer
dont
I won
feller
Wifes, something tke that ring
A A
Long Account
Junior-=1 owe all | have to
woman,
Sophomore Your mother?
Junior—No, my landlady, - Long
Lines,