Delaware Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1843-1874, 1873-09-04
eNot quite ninlecn," was the answer

mol qulte nlnteen, was the answer.
Mot quite uinetceu," aud yet I'll quist AMI
dignihed and womanly. II was almost inored-
iOle. Miss Barbara l.ck's: a. her ae.iil, and
In her face saw how pure Id ,we.t and fair sue
looked with the sky blue ives half hidden by
the white lids; she saw hvw ymootlds aud plain
ly the brown hair was fastened back how neat
and trim the dark dress how SNOWY were the
Guns and the narrow collar, and her heart was
nlled with wonder. A girl In the nineteenth
century without q rufde, pun, crimp, an
| overskirt, sash, or q suspicion cf panier
| about hai! Truly wonders would :;ever cease.
Az she gazed on this rdra avis her heart was hll-
ed with pity for poor John whobad thrown him
self away.
As the days went by Miss Barbara's heart
began To yearn for h.r ueph.w. She loved Al
ice dearly, but even she did not take the place
Of the absent one. His handsome face haunted
her day and night, and often, as she heard sud
den noise In the hall or at the door, she would
look up eagerly, half expecting 10 see him as
| size used To.
ST am getting DID," she said TO herself. "Per.
haps was little bard with hiin-my boy. Ill
ask Alice"
Aud 81 Que night she called Alice to her, and
as she sat at her feet In the freight, as John
had done Often, she told her all about 1t, and
how she lon,ed to see him again.
lin getting Old, Alice" she said. IL may
die soon, and want to see my boy. Perhapi
was wrong about his wife. 1t would do me
no harm TO see them once, Alice"
And Alice answered gently that perhaps ii
would be better for them all to do 50 but she
avoided her kind friends eyes, and there was
scarlet flush OH her face that was unusual.
The next DAY, Alice, under Hiss Barbara
direstions wrote little note 10 John Barton
''Tel him to come socn," she sail ali a
Alice wrote this Miss Barbara sat and though
intenly for u time, her face resting Oh he
hands. "fell him. she said agail, ''tell hin
| lie may bring his wife il he likes-l can at leas
. SEQ her 10 please him." And 50 the note wa
written and the messenger dispatched.
After this decisive step was ,ake Miss Bar
oara was In hutter of nervousness all The time
She donned her richest dress, her most cosll
cap, and then sat expectant, until she hear
Johns step OH the stairs, and John himsel
came in as Of old. OF course there was feS
minutes during which they both talked At once
and then, when the first excitement was oven
Miss Barbara suddenly grew grave.
"Where's your wife, she asked la her Vi
grim way.
John rose and rang the bell She's dow
/ stairs told her to stay ill | sent for her.
And then as the servant made his appearance,
said. "Show my wife up"
Miss Barbara waited quietly.
"You will love her little for my SAKE" pie,
>. ded John, as light toot-step was heard at til
door, and then, greatly 10 Miss Barbaras su
" p;ise, Alice Worthington lme in the room.
o "My nephex, Mr.. Barton. Miss Worthington
Il she. 81 d, then tuning To Alice: 81 am engage
? now, and you may be excused"
@ To her surprise John cooy put his arr
around the waist of his new acquaintance Al
" led her across tue room. Alice WorthingtO
Barton, Aunt Barbara he said; and then. wi
. the old mischief in his eyes: "I4ove her It'll
. for my sake, please
There are chilirens voices in the great holl
!. now. and Jane, who was In the plot and is no
i back In her cid place, and Miss Barbara y
d them almost to death, while John, the rogi
leases Lis aunt laughingly about the "doll-bab,
to which she considered him sacrificed. 81
lr if there is any person who Miss Barbara low
IL as dearly as her boy" It's the sweet-faced, &c
tie girl whom that boy married. To her mil
Of all feminine graces and virtues are possess
~ by .'Johns wife"