The commonwealth., 1905-11-16
IA r B A RA STANFORD
. moved about the sunny
{ room, arranging a vase of
! fresh May blossoms here,

Is IL room, arranging vase OF
Mx ~ fresh May blossoms here.
40oeEeeE2 Il chalice of dollhouse flow
ers there; adjusting the lace curtains
so that the westering sunshine fell in
on the India mating as through 4 veil
making dainty shimmeripg shadow
of the apple trees as the wind swayed
their blossOming branches.
She was the most strangely beautf.
full woman Duke Rivers had ever seen.
and as he sat on the veranda outside
the French windows, smoking a cigar
scarcely less delicately fragrant than
the sweet May day, and watching all
her graceful movements, every one OF
which was poem of itself, he was
thinking how it happened that this
glorious, enchanting creature had be-
come an inmate of his grandfather
house; and wondering. even more sur
prisedly. that she was still free, with
that ravishing beauty and fascination
of hers.
He sat quietly in the comforta bic
chair, his handsome blue eyes growing
warm and eager as they followed the
eANA AAOAAA PsSANS ~ pA0NCs 0AO AACA.
when she sat down a mement at the
open piano and struck a half-dozen
preliminary chords before she sang
an aria from ''Traviata," he flung
away his cigar, and went in through
the window, to meet her luminous eyes
as he stopped beside the instrument.
Don't stop, Miss Stanford. You al.
ways stop as soon as come i'm
He dropped his handsome head q lit
liberately arose from the piano stool.
do I, really? You know, Mrs. Riv-
ers would be very much displeased to
hear me sing-for anybody"
"And if my august sister-in-law
should be guilty of such poor taste
what then?''
Barbara walked slowly toward the
open window, where the declining sun
shot it's almost level rays full into her
grand young face-a face so exquisite
in its health. and purity, and rare
beauty that even the searching only
| added to its charm.
| AS Rivers followed her. with intense
reproach in his eyes, she lifted her
| own to his again, fairly dazzling him
| with their splendor.
What then?" she would gracefully
give me my congo. Mr.. Rivers
would she? Would she, really :
Then sing to me, Miss Stanford, SO
| can take you myself"
Barbara laughed.
"How generous you are! And l
| never had such q delightful position as
| here at Broadacres. Please do not for
get I am not independent, like Miss
Forrest. am not that fortunate lady,
! remember"
''It is not at all likely that 1 shall
| forget you are not Miss Forrest" lie
said, ca agerly. 'YOu are something far
| more enchanting and beautiful than
| sheer any mortal woman"
He was looking straight in her face,
| watching the brief little flush that SO
seldom disturbed it's pale fairness
| Even now she took no notice, apparent
| ly. of his intenseness.
"Well-Miss Forrest is the most ia
| vored woman l ever saw. She is rich,
and her own mistress, and
| She hesitated, in her pretty, grace
| full way.
"And what?" he asked, tenderly.
''That is enough, 1 am sure,'' she
added, lightly.
SIS it enough. Barbara? Would
! riches and independence be all the
goods of the gods you would ask:"
| Somehow, their talk was growing
| very confidential; somehow. Duke Riv-
| ers was realizing that this woman
with the wine-brown eyes, and droop-
| ing lashes. and perfect hands was Gre
ating a delirious, intoxicating havoc in
his heart-this exquisite creature
| whose name was Barbara Stanford
and who was q hired servant in his
grandfather's homestead-a paid at.
| tendant OH his elegant, aristocratic Sis
ter-in-law's caprices-this lovely crea
ture fit to be crowned and throned.
A light flashed up in her eyes at his
words, and then her lids dropped swift
ly. letting the long, thick lashes lie on
her cheeks like shOdw.
1T would not be enough, Barbara
| know that. With such a woman as
| you, love should be lord of all-sucl
love as L"
| A mischievous little face suddenly
| thrust itself in between the lace cur
| tains.
"Please, Uncle Duke, mamma says
! will you please come up to her room
| Miss Forrest is there, and they want
you."
! Somehow, it made a break in tn.
| harmony. Somehow, after young
| Duke had vanished again and they
| two were left standing along together
| the thread of their conversation woul(
not be taken up again, and it was Bar
bara who dissipated the rather awk
ward embarrassment of blank silence
| that fell upon them.
! Happy Miss Forrestv' she said
| with laughing little grimace tha
| showed to perfection her small, strons
| teeth. white as milk, and her exquisite
curve of lips and play of dimple Il
! cheek and chin.