Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1885-02-18
BAnBARA's DREADFUL FOLLY
BY GERALDINE FLEMING.

table cOInmOtlon WITHIN the fnOueet
Levue mansion Ethelinds, TALL, blonde
and sentirn-n al, had assumed the pose
OF q resigned martyr. HorteDsia, bruno,
stately and superciious, rat very erect
aud frowaed soornful coDdemnatio
Master Stanley, very spruce and jaunty,
affected bored sert of Indifference.
And In one corner of the shabbily gen.
teel parlor, on big ottoman, sat poor,
naughty liuie Barbara, her flushed
checks wet with the hot tears that were
still trickling from her long, pretty
lashes.
The gentleman l mention knows
every resident of that particular town I;
and he will vouch that no such person
a. Leo Meredith has ever been known
there" Master Stanley said, as he Ian
guidly twirled an exceedingly tiny
mustache.
~ am sure, Bab, warned you that
Leo Meredith WAS an impostor II you
had listened to my advice you would
have no cause TO feel 50 badly. ButyOu
would have your own way, just AZ you
always do nave, and the trouble you
have made for us all must be- eni ured,
suppose" Ethelinda said, with an air
of superior fortitude.
"There Is no use crying, Bah tears
will rot help you" Hortensia snapped,
disdainfully. You will not be again
permitted to meet the fellow; and In.
stead of mopiDg and sDiveling, you had
better be making things tidy about the
house; and you have that tulle putting
to DO for me before you finish Linda's
beaded Jacket; and besides Grandpa
Bryce may be here auy moment"
"Grandpa Bryce may never come
I,thal,nLa aaiI h
another air of sanity resignation.
Possibly he may learn all about that
dreadful affair and | am sure he could
not be- blamed II he would believe un-
| pleasant things about all of US. You
need not wonder, Eab, II he sends you
no more of his charming letters and de-
| li9htful presents.
"Well, now, really, / do not know
how We should manage to subsist
| W without the checks the I'D chap sends
| Babbie, occasionally" Master Stanley
| draw led across the gilded knob of his
natty cane. "He has been stupendons.
ly liberal, really, considering that he
| Is not in the least our grandfather,-he
only happened TO marry our own
grandfather's widow, you know,-and
he has never seen any of u.s."
| Well, he can afford TO be liberal, "
Hortepsia declared, IN her thin, sharp
scorn full tones. "Our own grandpa
left fortune 10 his second wife, and
she gave all the money to Grandpa
Bryce. Aud even If he has never seen
us, he ought TO know us we'll enough.
1 should think, from all the silly letters
Bah has been writing to him ever
since she wore pinafores.
And he always has sent her such
| - Ethnltvl q
sighed. 81 am sure, Bah, he has In
tended TO make you his heiress-and
now you have spoiled every thing By
that shocking Irritation with an iInpos
tor"
| "Leo Meredith Is not An impostor,
poor Barbara sobbed, from her ottoman
in the corner. And even If he were
III ould love him all the same and
had rather be his wife than be the heir
ess of anybody"
Such sentiments are absurd and
improper, Barbara and be-ides, 8
Child like you can have no knowledg'
of love-" Horte STA said, in accents o
supercilious censure Your sister anC
| best know what Is for your good ant
we cannot permit yon to encourage thu
Intentions OF a fellow who comes from
nobody knows where. But must
again remind you that you must q
about your work ?-you have sweepin,
to do, and that peach jelly, and Linda
jacket TO finish Immediately"
"There Ia no use reminding her o
her duties" Etheiinda said, with he
familiar assumption of patient martyr
dom i" Bah never has any regard 70
our Wishes she never cares how mucl
she frets and opposes us, but her dis
obedience and caprioes must be endur
ed, / suppose.
Now, really, Babbie, you ought &
ne more sensible, you know" Maste
Stanlty expostulated, with sort
pat ron izing authority. You ought t
help your sisters with the sweeping, an,
the knick- RDacbs, ard their fur beloy
and II that you ought to be- grateful
really, that they like you TO do sucl
,ritiing things for them ! And you ar
a lucky girl, Babbie, that you hav
somebody to interpose between you an
that questionable fellow who has bee
> following you about We cannot ALLOW
you to do anything that would b
di.creditable to us, you know the oil
chap who happens to be our Rrandp
might choose 10 be huffish, and al
that And If he would send you n
= more checks, how ever would your sis
thiDPB? ?"
"There is no use reasoning wit
her" Ethelinda complained. "Sh
even begrudges you what you have al
solutely needed, your cigarettes, al
perfumes, and cord ials and she Ia nj
I likely to care If we shall be compelle
to wear shabby dresses. She wi
? never be advised by us, though sh
knows very well she may make Crane
a pa Bryce buffy. We shall have to OIL
!. dare her seifishness, suppose.
. The offending Barbara had checke
: her girlish tears, and arisen from he
;. seat. For once she WAS really rebe
8 lions and defiant.
You have no right to accuse me o
selfshness, Linda" she retorted, il
! dignantly. "All that Grandp
4 Bryce has sent ke meant for me, an
!, he will be angry only because l bav
Q not been allowed TO use his generou
mean to be scolded and coaxed like
child either"
And with determined sparkle 1
d her wineome, violet eyes. and with hs
bonny, golden head held very higl
Z pretty, rebeilious Barbara turned an
Z walked with dignity from The rooT.
"She will be humble enoug
directly" Hortensia pred icted
with contep, uous frown, &
she pt rchel her stately SO
on the mu ic-stoo' b,s.de The pian
There is nothing like little who'll
some work to subdue refractory youu
simpleton"
sand we are 40 patient and indu
W W gent toward her, too" Ethelind
sighed as she took up a fashion journi
and leaned indolently back in h'