Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1882-03-23
BARBARA BRANDT.

''These shirts Of yours, Ash, are past
mending, and the patches are three
deep on the table cloth now. Oh, dear?
| wonder If there ever was family so
poor as we are. It's nearly year since
/ had a new dress, and my ribbons and
belts, and nets and things, are just
about gone and no hope of ever being
able to buy more. I'm getting really
desperater. Thus spoke Kathie Dun
can out of the depths of her impa-
tience, pushing scissors and spoOls and
unfinished mending away from her
with a little motion of disgust.
Ash Duncan got up from the lounge
where he had been lying and limped
slowly and painfully across the floor to
an open window at the other side of
the room. A fine looking man in
health, but pale now frow the effects of
the wound that had sent him out of
the army six months before, disabled
for life
Getting desperate, grille? What
then do you think of me?"
Something in the expression of his
face, in the quiet hopelessness of the
tone brought the quick tears to her
eyes. In an instant her arms was
about his neck, her sunny curls close
to his cheek.
"What do l think of you? Why that
you're the best brother in all this world.
/ know it was selfish for me to talk like
that whea the poverty comes just as
hard on You as on me. I'm like a
spoiled baby, always fretting, but you
never complain-nOr Barbara, thread
ing his dark hair through her fingers as
she talked.
She stopped as d carriage came into
view around a corner of the quiet street
a luxurious carriage, drawn by a pair
Of blooded horses that were the admira-
ton of the whole town, and driven by q
man whose appearance accorded we'll
with the stylish turnout as it drew up
III the Duncan door.
A troubled look came into the broth
er's eyes as he saw.
you'll have to go and entertain Mr..
Anderson little bit, Kathie," putting
the girl gently away from him. Bar
bara is not quite ready yet, l think. y
While the sunbright head of one Sis
ter flashed out of one door the other
came in by the opposite one-only a
half-sister to these two, though-beau-
tiful Barbara Brand. Half-sister and
second cousin also, for Mrs. Duncan's
two husbands had been own cousins,
bearing a striking family likeness to
each other, which accounted for the
fact that Ash and Barbara looked very
much alike, while each resembled their
father, Kathie alone having her moth
er's blonde beauty. There was couple
of years difference in the ages of these,
and Barbara was the elder; but you
would not have guessed it, looking at
them both with a strangers eyes. He
was twenty-five, she twenty-four. But
those three years of army life had left
their mark upon him, while she was
radiant to-day in silken garments that
rallied as she walked, with sparkling
jet-clasp at her waist, with q pretty, soft
scarlet shawl about her, and black
dotted veil shading the lovely brunette
face.
I" Will do, ASH"
81 think you will, Lady Barbara"
And truly she would.
70 be sure a WOmans eye would
have deserted poverty in every fold of
the carefully preserved silk; would
have OWNED that the trimming which
gave the dress such a distingue air had
been put on to conceal a dire rent In
the shining fabric; would have discov-
cred the darns in the filmy handker-
chief, and discerned that the bonnet,
becoming as it was, was of last years
fashion. But then she had not dressed
for a woman's eyes this time.
She stood long time before the glass
tying on her bonnet. At last, at don't
suit me yet. Please fix it, Ash. You
are so handy-handier q good deal,
than kathie," kneeling down beside
him, this queenly Barbara, so that he
need not get up.
Presently, 81 am glad you sent kathie
awaya / want to speak to you a mo-
ment before | CO." laying her two
hands on his shoulder as she still kuolt
there "When | am Leo Anderson s
wife you can have every comfort, Ash.
till you are strO~g again, and after that
as you have wanted to de-"
you are going to marry that man,
Barbara :"
"He asked me three days ago, and |
promised to give him my answer this
afternoon"
And your answer will be"
My answer will be yes"
Barbara, Barbara, what are you do
ing? And what of Bertrand Stevens ~
He could see how white her face was
as she made answer:
Bertrand Stevens ship came in six
weeks ago. But we have not seen him.
He has forgotten us, you see."
Maybe not. He may be sick. Or
something may have happened"
Her hands shook as they rested on
lis shoulder
II thought so till last week-when
Captain Brass told me that he was in
New York a month ago and saw him.
There was a lady with him, he said
She stepped there, not saying any
more, not crying either-her eyes
looked as if they would never weep
again.
"And you have known this week
Barbara"
YES"
That was all.
She stood up pretty soon. 81 have
kent Mr.. Anderson waiting long
enough"
Ash caught her hand as she was turn
ing away.