The morning call., 1892-08-14
BARBARA.
CHAPTER /

"Yes, Liza"
at might be bit longer than that one
you've got on, though; you're going in Il.
child. ain'T you?"
Yes, Liza"
Barbara and her sister, Mrs. Stone, were
sitting at tea together in a cottage Kitchen.
The room was small and square. with low
window full of geraniums in pots, a stone
floor carpeted with one bright patchwork
rug, mahogany side-table and few
brightly polished chairs. The middle table
was drawn close to the fire, for it was cold
January afternoon.
Mrs. Stone was a woman OF 26 with
slight figure and a Thin face, on which the
wear and tear of married life had left It's
traces. She wore a very new black dress.
which was at this moment turned up care
fully over her knees and pinned together
behind
Barbara was a pretty child of 13 Ii er
eoloring was very bright, and the lines Of
her face were delicate and regular. thou gh
as vet they all possessed much f their
childish softness. Her hair, which fell
oosely on her shoulders, was a bright
shining yellow, and her eyes were large and
blue. She was tall for her age, and straight
with a straightneSs that promised, when the
child should be woman, to resolve itself
y
face was curious, and in such child very
unusual Il was serious and thoughtful,
and great lntentness and concentration
shone cut of the large eyes. She, toe, was
wearing a black froek. and the dark dress
seemed 10 enhance al one ana the same
time, at variance though they were, the
pretty youthfulness of the child's face and
the gravity Of its expression.
BaTbara's eyes were heavy and tired as
she raised them to her sister, and Mrs.
" a Of her
1ou look tired. child,'' she said; ''you
aint been cryin' no more?"
Not to-day haven't, Liza"
That's right No cryin' wont bring her
back, you see; and it's certain sure she's
better of. Poor motherl What deal she
suferedw Mrs. Stone ended with sigh.
Their mother had been buried only the
day before. Her Illness had been very
snort; sharp attack of inflammation had
developed rapidly, ana Mrs. Maylin had
scarcely lived three days after the fright
ened Barbara sent for her sister 10 help in
the hursing. Now it was all over, and Mrs.
Stone was going back that afternoon by the
carriers cart TO her own home in village
three miles away.
There was a little pause while Barbara
looked into the glowing fire, and Mrs. Stone
took a comprehensive glance around the
room and seemed 70 turn over something in
her own mind
You're quite sure you'll be able to do for
Jim?' she said to Barbara suddenly.
Barbara looked up quickly, aud the heavy
look IN her eyes gave way instantly to a
flash OF ager interest
For Jim?' she repeated, "Oh. yes, Liza,
I'm sure; told mother l could. AMI Pm
quite sure | can"
We'll, l don't see why you shouldn't get
On all right, Mrs. Stone answered thought
fully. OuTe a steady enough child or
your age, and Jim amt like some
JIms as careful as can be-" said Bar
para, with loving intentness in her eager
voice.
And if you want anything. Mrs, Smith
and them was sayin'-bless me, Barbara,
IS that the church clock going four? |
shant never be al the crossroads by half
past and Brown so punctual. Get my par
ceis while L put my bonnet on; there's a
good girl"
Mrs. Stone had risen as she spoke ana
unplnned her dress, and her last words were
spoken from the TOP of the staircase. which
opened directly out of the Kitchen by a door
Cd the left-hand side of the fireplace.
An hour laier Mrs Stone was seated in
the carriers cart on her way home. telling
- 10 It's much-lnteTested occupants all the de-
talls oI Der mothers illness and death.
barbara. having run most Of the way home
from the crossroads. whittier she had ar
eompanied her sister, opened the door of
the house. which was separated By a small
strlD OF garden from the rough pebbled
pavement and muddy lane known in Meld-
ham Is tie street" and came TO q stand
-
She surveyed the kitchen with a serious
lace, and then glanced at the eight-day
clock
"Jm'u be home in an hour" she said to
herself.
Barbara had lived in Meldham all her life.
Her father Sic could scarcely remember,
and ever since her sisters early marriage
she bad lived alone with her mother and
brother The only break in the child's
quiet lie had been a Sunday-scbool treat,
day or two spent with her sister or a DAYS
exCursl on with the choir Miss Denning
the icaIs daughter, whose pameSake and
god child Barbara was, had early discovered
her sweet voice and taken her into the
choir. Into the midst of this peaceful life
had come the sudden sorrow Of her moth
eT's death.
Barbara had loved her dead mother very
dearly There had been between the two
that curious strengthening OF The usual love
so often visible wien the youngest child is
very much younger than the others and
stands alone, as II were, with all her child
ish heart. AL the content, all the care and
protection the child simply and instinctively
looked for. she simply found in mother"
But her love for her mother was yet only
ike firm backgT0u nd to the child's ex-
istence. The active force of her little life
was her love for her brother Jim. The love
she had for him was something utterly diff
ferent from the ordinary affection of a sister
for a brother; it was far deeper and
stronger. and it absorbed all the emotional
her surroundings and her brnging-up and
little though ii came to he surface, made a
great part OF BarOara's nature In the self
contained, quiet child there was, out of
sight. an intense vein OF passion. How it
had cTeDt into so strange an earthly dwell
ing as Barbara's simple heart IL is impos-
sible TO say, but there it was. 1t was strong
enough, in other circumstances and in an
older heart, To have wrecked and ruined
life; but IL was only in Barbara's, and its
nj Ina
to define how it bad developed but ever
since the child had been conscious of any
definite feelings, even when Jim was q school
bay and she a baby GIRL Jim's smile and
Jim's presence had been her greatest de-
light. Jim's pleasure had been a law 10
her through all her growing years. and
Jim's approval was Ter keenest happiness
now.
1t seemed to Barbara that now they were
left alone she loved Jim better than ever,
and il seemed TO her also that the only
thing that could possibly comfort her for
losing neT mother was that she could try to
take that mothers place with Jim. At
first there had been some slight discussion
as to what should be done. Mrs Stone had
wished TO establish her brother in lodgings.
and take Barbara home with her; but Bar
bara's eager pleadlngs and protestatiOns
had overruled this plan.
ITO do for Jim like mother did" was her
dearest earthly wish. and :" to make it nice
for jim" her highest ideal. All the child
locked forward to In life was a long vista Of
years in which she should learn better and
better TO make Jim comfortable.
She kissed Jim as he said good-by to her
on the third morning after Mrs Stones de-
partuIe with loving kiss that seemed 10
have in il some Of those bopes and longings;
and jim, standing at the half-open door in
the cold January dawn, bent his head
toward her for another, as il unconsciously
touched by it..
''Good-by. Barbara" he said in the loud,
CHEEKY voice, which to Barbara was the
dearest ON earth. 81 shall he in in nnnd