The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-04-18

kcT a. ne DhAHcus rs III NeeklnR n TetuEn- VI neI
on,y.stopped when he saw suddenly the famn-
lar skirt OF his wife at u further window and
20. its YOU said Mrs. Barker. witt, a half;
nervous. helf-impatient laugh, Why; !
noon with your old partner. considering that
you haven't met for three. years"
there was equally no doubt that tho converse
tion she was carrying on with her companion.
9 good;looking. portly business eG-
tice IL. capt. Heath. my husband, )" she went
on carelessly rising and smoothing her skirts.
~ at the intrnd uction. but Barker extended his
hand frankly. II sound Stacy busy. he said
~ answer to his wife: but no is coming to
III you mean Jim stacy, the banker" said
Cant. Heath. 6righteninE, into greater ease;
seen men standing in a queue outside his door
as in the old days at the Post Office. And no
So you and he were partners onc1?'' he. said.
looking curiogsIy at the still yonthfn. BSrEs Ell
yes. and always such good friends. i was sw.
fully Jealous OF him Nevertheless. she did not
respond to the atrcctionate protest IN BARRIERS
glanced ndlfferenlly around the room rs II to
leave further, conversation TO the two men;
that Capt. Heath was as DC trop. now as her
husband had been n moment before. stand
, ,peci mere = pa ho { on t 1esw csTpet tH with . he toe se Of
her slipper. she looked prettier than she had
ever looked a. Kitty Carter. Her slight figure
was moi RS fully developed. That artificial Sc
verify covering n naturrl virgin coyness with
which she used TO walt at table In her father's
by a satisfied oonsciousness Of her power to
rltase. Ter glance vas freer. but not as frank
a as IN thoss daSs; il, II Her dress res" was Vas richer a.,sr ana no
verified fondlv to the chintz gown. couuetrishly
frilled apron a d ~spotless cuffs md collar In
fain. color that left his own face crimson.
Capt. Heath's tact being equal to her .ndif-
l Wa. becom M ma" int ensased IN haH tSis yo S,thaufi hus.
hand. But Mrs. Barker. after having asserted
aer husbands distinction as the equal friend OF
the millionaire. WAS BY no means. willing that
the Captain should be Interested In Barker for
himself alone. AMI did not urge him to stay.
As he departed she turned to her husband and.
indicating the group he had passed the mo
ment before. said;
THAT horrid woman has been staring at us.
! don't see what YOU see In her to ADMIRE
Poor Barker's dmiration bad been limited
to a few words OF civility in the enforced SON
youthful recognition of her striking personality.
But he was then too preoccnpied with his inter.
Quite understand his wife. / was odd how
many things he did not quite understand now
about. Kitty. but that he know must be his fault.
But Mrs. Barker apparently did not require. al
ter the fashion OF her sex; n reply; For the next
momerTti as they moved ai sc = do their hpn Teom mi
what stacy sale. Did you get tho money!"
| grievc to say that this soul OF truth and
frankness lied. MY to his wife, perh hans, ne ne
which he was at times mlserahly conscious.
1T wasn't NECESSARY. dear" he said; he ad,
II Won only knew how dreadfully busy hc is"
Mrs.: Barker suT LED her s,o p ret lip LIP: anti. III a aRrt
TAX very w!a loGF a iS ssnd lei SiS You. Y s%s have have, about bout
made mo sick nv singing the praises OF those
wonderful partners OF yours; and here you ask
your securities. And you know. and he knows,
they're worth next to nothing"
"fCu don't understand dear-'' began
II mnde, stand that you've given your ~ord
to poor Harry" said Mrs. Barker in pretty in
Indignation, who's responsible for the Ditch
And I shall keep t.. ! ALWAYS do" seid
Gular expression Of face that had puzzled
stacy. But Mrs. Barker. who. perhans, knew
her %B hg' Sa% c ss.' saa. s aear !" an altered voice;
IF I'm short a THOUSAND or two III. AJAX your
Mrs. Barker was silent. Fathers 50 very
much harried now. George. Why don't you
simply throw the whole thing up?"
But I've .iven my word to your cousin
YES. hut only your word. There was no
written agreement. And you couldn't even
Barker opened his frank eyes in astonish-
ment.. Her own cousin. too! And they were
"Besides." added Mrs. Barker audaciously.
other oirer; but he thought yours the best. So
BY this time they had reached their rooms.
Barker, apra,ent!y ditmissinR the subject
turned into the bedroom and walked smilingly
toward a small Glib which stood in tbs corner.
Well" said Mrs. Barker. a little impa-
%siently: you didn't expect me 70 take him into
5 shs public narloT; ~, where ] wa was seeing Eel visitors; ;n,c
the lower hall to play with the Others"
A shade mon.entari!y passed over Barker's
the child when he came back. He had u be.
lief. based on no grounds whatever; that the
fathers doubt OF the wholesomeness OF other
world i~ndiscriminatcly AID under the e1;
You haven't told ms anything. about your
t PIsaS's Stacy "a said.%s. d Me. Barker , .dropD iDS
lanAuidly into q chair. And really IL you
s ssf ''p I $lsS Ssn sa.s q. A xsii i HSH5n 4 .tssi c tns.
s nsS S%. Is s ~ "a y S ;sf : s said ss ssias ax: s%foS sss4.
he was awfullv busy. you know, and shut up
in the inpcrmost office like the agate in one
continned. briTfenins M. lust ihe SAME
;;ea, Of Jim Stacy Of Heavy Tree Hill when
first X knew ro That Lord ard dear nIon hsw 1t ~ al lo came ne
the belief that I was unex pectedly rich aud
even bought a claim for the boys on the
to find that they had made n big strike on
the very claim. Lord!I remember how I was
e sSey e'a sassss Cd i isn,h sas1 Dear sS' Old SFo Stacy one so OF
the first"
yes" said Mrs. Barker. land | hope your
.riend Stacy that hut for me. when
you found out that you wer" not rich. you'd
hive given up the claim. and that really de-
ceivsd my own father 10 make YOU keen It;
I've often worried over that. GEORGE. she said
pensivelv. turning a diamond bracelet around
her pretty wrist. although l never said any
thing about it,
"Hut Kitty. darling" snid Barker, grasping
his wife's hand. Il gave my note for H.: you
know you sail that was BARGAIN enough, and I
lad better wait until the note wis due. and I'M
ell ! found I couldn't pay. before / gave up tho
claim. It was very clever OF you. and the
your father. dear" he said. looking at her.
FOR ! should have told him everything"
'Of course, n you look at It in that way"
said his wife, languidly. IT'S nothing, only
! think IL ought TO be IN when poo
pie go about saying papa ruined you with his
hotel schemes"
nantly;
Mrs. Rarker with n toss OF her pretty head,
and believe that's at the bottom Of Stacy's
refusal."
''Bu he never said n word. Kitty" said
Barker flushing.
There. don't excite yourself, George said