Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1902-03-14


was concerned were insignificant.
Mrs. Dillingham; kept her word, and
called on Barbara's mother. She also
sent a note to Barbara, inviting her
to call; and little later she even in
Guided her in a quiet afternoon tea
at her house.
these overtures, for they represented
ingham's part. Barbara regretted
little later that she had not gone.
But she had at the time, after that
one night at Mrs. Vane's, concluded
that she had attempted thing that
was of no value. She would approach
the matter from another side. She
was trying to think it all out, and
had many talks with Mrs. Ward and
Mrs. Vane about it, when an event oc-
Cured that threatened to interrupt
all her plans and prove a real and
serious crisis in her life as a servant.
1t must have been three weeks aft
er that evening at Mrs. Vane's when
Alfred came home from college for
few days. He had not been in the
house an hour. before Barbara was
annoyed by his attentions. They
were so marked that his mother no.
ticed it. Barbara was intensely in
dignant, and Mrs. Ward was much
disturbed over it. In the afternoon,
Barbara could hear loud voices in the
sitting-room; and in the midst of it
all Carl came out into the kitchen,
crying and trembling, and saying
that his mother and Alfred were
quarreling. Barbara, knowing what
it was all about, could not help feel
ing relieved when the voices ceased;
and after a time Mrs. Ward came out
and had a talk with Barbara, apollo
giving for Alfred and promising that
there woulu be no recurrence of the
matter.
Barbara listened in silence, and
when Mrs. Ward was through she
said: "Alfred never would have be-
haved as he did if he had not been
drinking"
do you mean to say that Alfred
drinks?" Mrs. Ward almost shrieked.
The experiences of the morning had
given her one of her headaches.
"He does. He drank when he was
here last fall"
81 can't believe it possible. He has
nervous headaches. He bathes his
head in alcohol to relieve it. He has
told me so many times" exclaimed
Mrs. Ward, Indignantly.
"But I know he was drinking this
morning, or he would never have be-
haved so. No gentleman would ever
have spoken to me as he spoke, Mrs.
Ward, if he hadn't been under the in
1uence of liquor"
Mrs. Ward lost her temper. After
wards, in quiet thoughtfulness, Bar
bara knew that her nervous tension
was responsible for what she did.
''It's not true! You are too much
given to thinking of yourself. You
are too good for your place"
'Then, if I'm too good for my
place, perhaps I had better not stay
in it," spoke up Barbara in a sudden
passion. But she was not an angel
nor perfect, only a girl, worn out,
perhaps, with the constant toll; and,
at any rate, she was sorry for it the
minute she spoke.
"You can leave any time! The
sooner, the better!" Mrs. Ward said.
''I'm sorry" Barbara began.
"You needn't say anything. The
sooner you leave, the better. We
have all been worried to death over
you ever since you camel! CALCULATED
Mrs. Ward; and, bursting into hYs-
terical fit of weeping, she retired to
the lounge in the sitting-room.
If Barbara had waited until the
weeping was over, and then gone in
and told Mrs. Ward she had decided
not to leave until her week was out,
| Mrs. Ward would have apologized.
! But the quickest passion is reused
by injustice; and Barbara, smarting
under the lash of Mrs. Wards nerv-
ous-headache tongue, went at once
! to her room, packed her things into
her trunk, put on her hat, and turned
to leave the house. Down in the
kitchen she found Carl crying.
where are you gong, Barbara
Don't go away. I'm frightened, every
thing is so queer" he cried, lifting his
arms to her. She took him up in her
lap and kissed him.
''Why, you're crying, too, Barbara.
Everybody's crying. What for?"
I'm going home, Carl. Your mann
ma thinks I had better go home"
care you coming back?"
SCI don't know, DEAR" Barbara an
swered as she put the child down.
/ Don't go, Barbara" the child cried
as she went out of the door.
Don't cry, dear Carl. Perhaps
I'll come back again." Barbara turned
and called out to the child, kissing
| her hand to him.
CHAPTER vi.
! A KITCHEN IS AS ROYAL AS A PAR