Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1867-12-06
bAA1ANA BR ANDT.
BY MARY j. ALLEN.

"These shirts of yours, Ash are past mend
ing, and the patches are three deep on the
| tahlec,oth now. ei, dear wonder if there
tper was family as poor as we are. It's
nearly year since had new dress, and
/ my ribbons. and belts. and nets and things,
are just abous gone and no hope Of ever being
/ able to buy more. Fm getting really desper-
| a,e r Thus SPOKE kathie Duncan out Of the
depths of her impatience pushing scissors and
spools and unfinished mendng away from her
with a little motion Of disgust.
Ash Duncan got up from the lounge where
lc had been lying and lmped slowly and
painfully across the hoor to an open window
at the other side of HE room. 4 inclooking
man in health, but pale now from the effects
OF the wound that had sent him out of the
army six months before, disabled for life.
"Gctting desperate, grille? What then do
you think Of me =
Something in the expression of his face, in
the quiet hoplessness Of the tone, brought the
quick tears to her eyes. In an instant her
arm was about his neck. her sunny crrls close
TO his cheek.
"what do think of you? Why that you're
the best brother in all tie world. l know it
was selfish in me to talk like that when pow
erty comes just as hard on you as on me- I'm
! like spoiled baby, always fretting, but you
never conplain-nor Barbara" threading
his dark hair through her fingers as she
| talked.
She stopped as a carriage came into view
around corner of the quiet street--a luxuri-
Gus carriage, drawn by a pair Of bloodcd
horses that were tie admiration of the whole
town, and driven by a man whose appear
ance accorded well with the stylish turnout
| rs il drew up at The Duncan door.
A troubled look came into the brothers eyes
as he saw.
"Youll have to 60 and entertain Mr.. An
dcrson u little bit, Kathie," putting the girl
gently away from him. barbara is not quite
ready yet. think.
While the sunbright head of one sister aash-
ed out Of one door the other came in By the
opposite one-only half sister to these two,
though-beautful Bal bara Brandt, Half sister
and second cousin also, for Mrs. Duncan's
two husbands had been own cousins, bearing
striking family likeness to each other,
which accounted for the fact that Ash and
Barbara looked very much alike while each
resembled their father, ka,hie alone having
her mothers blonde beauty. There was a
couple Of years difference in the ages Of these
two, and Barbara was the elder; but you
would not have guessed it, looking at them
both with a strangers eyes. He was twenty
two she twenty -four. But those three years
Of army life had left their mark upon him,
while she was radiant to>day in silken gar
ments that traied as she walked, with q
sparkling jet clasp at her waist with pretty
soft sea, let shawl about her, and black dotted
veil shading the lovely burnette face.
"Will | do, Ash r.
4 think you will, Lady Barbara
And truly she would.
To be sure a woman's eyes would have des-
cried poverty in every fold of the carefully
preserved silk would have OWNED that the
trimming which gave the dress such disna;ue
air had been put on to conceal dire rent in
the shining fabric would have discovered the
darns in the flmy handkerchief, and discern
ed that the bonnet, becoming as it WAS, was of
the last years fashion. But then she had not
dressed for a womans eyes this time.
She stopped long tine before the glass
tying on her bonnet. At last "lt don't suit
me yet Please fix it, Ash. You are sohandy-
handler, good deal, than Kathic, knecling
down beside him, this queenly Barbara, SO
that he need not get up.
Presently, II am glad you sent Kathie
away. | want to speak to you moment be-
fore 60, laying her two hands on his shoulder
as she still knelt there. "When am Leo An
derson's wife you can have every comfort, Ash,
till you are strong again, and after that mon
ey to 60 to the Commercial College, as you
have wanted 10 do"
"fou are going to marry that man, Barba-
raj"
"He asked NE three days asa and Tpran-
ised to give him my>apswer tkn afternoon"