The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1902-02-21

/ "Isn't this the meaning?" she said,
and then gave very good intefpre-
tation, Alfred listening as he lounged
on the sofa, book in hand.
"Of course It's. That's just it!
What q numskull / must be! Wish
you'd translate the whole thing for
me-" the college youth ventured to
hint.
thank You, no, sir! have other
work to do" barbara had laughed.
But from that little incident she
began to note little irritating atten-
| tons paid to her, at first insignificant.
but the last few days before the
young man departed for college they
| were unmistaKable, and Barbara was
annoyed and even angered. She was
really much relieved when he had
gone.
But that experience was not at all
to be compared with discovery she
made as TO Alfred's habits, and it was
| matter of regret to her afterward
that she did not inform Mrs. Ward OF
| it. 1t was the fact that several times
she felt certain the young man had
| been drinking. She had never known
| him to be intoxicated; but she was
sure he had more than once been
dangerously near it, and it was a
matter of surprise to her that Mr..
| and Mrs. Ward seemed so Indifferent
| to it.
"Oh dear!" Barbara sighed, as she
went the rounds of her daily task.
carrying this added burden of knowl-
edge. 'Is there no family without it's
| skeleton? Ought l to drag it out for
their inspection, if they don't know
| of it's existence? It hardly seems to
| be my business. And they must be
| blind not to have noticed as much as
has been apparent even to a servant"
1t was a week after Alfreds de-
parture that Mr.. Ward announced the
news of Mr.. Morton's acceptance of
his call to Marble Square church. 1t
was in the evening after the supper
work was all done; and Barbara, as
her custom had been for several days
during the remodeling OF her room,
was seated with the family in the
| dining-room, which was also the
favorite living-room, helping Mrs.
Ward on some sewing. Lewis and
George were reading, and Carl was
playing on the floor near Barbara.
81 have Morton's letter of accept
ance, Martha. AS chairman of the
supply committee it came to me to-
day. 1t is a good thing for Marble
Square church. The people had sense
enough to call him without going
through a long course of candidat-
ing"
"When is he coming?" Mrs. Ward
asked.
1.-TWO weeks from next Sunday. The
church at Carlton released him under
special conditions, because they could
get a man at once to fill his place.
We're fortunate to get n man like
Morton. He has future"
Barbara made me a gingerbread
man once; and we called it Mr.. Nor
ton, didn't we, Barbara?" Carl spoke
up suddenly, after Il absorbed silence
during which he was apparently not
listening to syllable that was being
said.-
"Where is Mr.. Morton going to
stay?' Mrs. Ward asked.
81 don't know yet. / wrote him
that we would be delighted to take
him in here, but we didn't have the
room"
"And I told Barbara" Carl broke
in as if nothing had been said since
he spoke last, that l thought the
gingerbread man looked just like Mr..
Morton, and she said she thought it
didn't. I wish Mr.. Morton would
come here to live, don't you, Barbara?
Wouldn't that be fine?"
Barbara did not answer, and Carl
| got up off the floor, and went over to
her and pulled her work out of her
| hands.
carl! Carl! You mustn't do
that!" his mother exclaimed.
"Say, Barbara, don't you?" Carl
persisted.
Don't ask so many questions" re-
piled Barbara, almost sharply.
"I haven't asked many Carl pout
ed; but he went back to his game on
/ the floor, wondering in his childhood
mind what made the usually gentle
Barbara so cross.
II think the Brays can take him in.
I hope they can. It's so near by that
we can have him with us often. Well
be right on his way to church and
back" Mr.. Ward remarked as he set
tied himself to the reading of the
evening paper.
ITO Be Continued
"Qui Vive."
4