Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-08-22
BARBARA.


tail, and filed up quite large space in
society in very opposition to her name;
whereas Barbara was an elf of nine years.
standing on this grim old footstool OF
ours, and was not one-guarter as big as
her name, with the face Of fairy and
bright brown eyes that looked out from
under her yellow bang, ridiculously like
Dots pony peered from under his Inane
and with orbs almost as big and fully
Us iiupid. But then she is my heroine,
and you must needs mako the best Of
her.
Dot was engaged, am happy to say,
to perfect Apollo, but I'm sorry to adj
NIT that she treated said Apollo as if he
Were nothing more than poor, weak,
erring mortal, and took it upon stately,
privileged self 10 lecture tie young man
upon certain faults she took, as d matter
course, must be in Lis possession, being,
as he was, the only son of very indul-
gent pair Of old folks.
But she was shaken to the very foun-
da1ion Of her royal being when, one day,
she discovered that the last sentence of
her excellent harangue had fallen upon
thin air; and she had confused sense OF
"a pair of indignant, sorrowful eyes leav-
ing their light to haunt her, as she sat,
amazed and hurt, after tho hall door
slammed like wooden oath.
He was gone then-"Oh, Scotch.
Scott" which was no slang at all, but
the irate Apollo's christened name. Dot
rose from her chair Of state, and carried
her heart, bleeding and torn, up the
front stairs to anoint it with tears and
cover it with the magnificent new ball
dress from Nine. Highprice 's-admirable
bandage.
"Whath the matter Dot2" Miss Bar
bara's eyes had caught the gieam of
something shining liquid and bead like
youth cryingl"
q believe you would cry too, Chickie;
wouldn't you, if the prince came and
promised you nice things, and then
rushed of without saying anything about
them! Wouldn't you?"
''Ithn't Thcott going to take you to
the ball2'
at certainly looks that way. He went
of so angry with me!' Another tear
splashed holly down upon Barbara's lit
tie uptu1red face. The child gravely
wiped it off, uttering this solemn injunc-
ton: Don't you cry or worry one bit
mere about thith. | will thee about
thith matter mythelf," unconscioiIsly
initiating papa S most impressive manner
OF speech.
They had always talked to her as if
che could understand their mature rea-
soning-this sister and this papa-that
she had come to have a ludicrous little
air of sage and wise consideration of all
things brought within her ken.
Nine O'Clock and no Scott-he was not
coming then; must she miss the glorious
assembly bell because of his anger! Not
she. Half past 8; had Barbara been
awake she would have noticed the quiv-
ering eyelids that tried SO hard to keep
The teardrops prisoners. Quarter of 10
she gave up all hopes of Scott, and in ten
minutes more papa was drowned In a sea
of overlooking satin, whose cream white
pillows were filing the coupe to its ut
most capacity.
Ten o'clock. A loud peal from the
door bell aroused Barbara from her
sound slumbcr. Another peal Out of
bed, into her little Mother Hubbard
wrapper, and down the stairs crept Bar
bara, on tiptoe, too, though there was no
need Of that, as every blessed trusted SER
want was gone out and the child was
alone In the big house. The wee hand
mastered the huge door key, and out in
the moonlight the brown eyes discovered
Dots lover.
r "Oh, it'll you"
Eyes, Chickie, of course it is. Isis
Dot ready?"
Now, I've always been amazed at the
little-and big-tibs children can tell on
the slightest provocation. | had even
gone SO far as to entertain some odd IDEAS
on the subject of the utter lack Of con-
science in the world OF childhood, and
honestly believe that Teracity IS an actual
matter Of education, pure and simple
with dismal conviction that even 7culti-
walton does not always Elffice. / have
been astonished with what fertility the
brains of infancy are possessed, invent
ing with ease uncailed for and unprece-
denied untruths; and, as Miss Barbara
was beyond the average, am bound, in
all truth. TO say that she gravely sent the
following little fib up into SCOTS listen
ing ears:
= '.Yeth, Doth it'll all ready and gone
bthead. am almotht drethed; iutht go
into the library, pleath, Thcott, and I
will not keep you waiting more than
Uneven nlinuthS."
Poor Scots wrathy whirlwind was
gathering about his ears as, all unccn-
he obeyed the little maid. His |
quMrel-n So cue sided an affair could |
be called tlat-with his beloved had |
driven al thoughts of the bali from his
head; and now TO come and find her OF /
and away with her parental relative. and |
10 realize that she had had very good |
cause ID think the rlost horrible things |
in tue world Of lis seeming oarels5sness,
made him blind 10 lie simply outl2nGish
scheme OF the lit1lc ester. and 10 be glad
that he had bseu the oblec. o. oven .
Barbara rushed OF Wild with excite
uent; and, reaching her own room
ugain, she, like human Latydid.
Jumped upon the low, wide dresser, tore
each little curl paper from its resting
place upon Ter pretty round head. and
began 70 comb the crooked yellow kroaS
into heaps of wonderful golden tuzz!
Next Dots diamond star was pinned
to one side CT her Uranium,
. dancing school dress was oonnod-a
fsock all glinamer and pale pinz shad-
ovrs and Eavins it unfastened, sis drew
aa her fur lined school cloak. pokeS c
sash of purest Brussels into one Of its