New-York tribune., 1907-01-13
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Oh, YOU darling!" she cried, and gathered him
up her as though she had been used to bables
always Il don't know any babies, she confessed,
with shining eyes. "l-Constance-l never had one
in my arms before.
It would have been amusing if it had not been
rathetic to see how Barbara 5 ideas the proper
bringing up OF children exploded after that day
when Dicky first smiled on her. The child really
in danger OF being spoiled If he had cried for the
moon think she would have eXerted all her powers
TO oct it for him Let his chubby chin Qulver the
least bit or the suspicion of we'll up IN his big
blue eyes, and Cousin Barbara promptly was down
on her knees before him with the halt OF her kingdom
spread out before his grasping, destructive little
hands He broke the crystal of her watch the hrst
day, throwing it payfully across the room; he
ruthlessly tore her dainty gowns and pulled down
her smooth pompadour, and still the one time
advocate of the strict upbrnging OF children beamed
him benignly and offered him forbidden bonbons
and all her trlnkets TO play with II she could nave
given him her heart to smash | think she would
Chcerfulv have done it.
OF course, the old Barbara showed over and over
again but still she talked fcebly AMI inter-
mttently about listening for the clarion call to ones
life work,
mitted reluctantly -" think YOU probably more
successful at it than YOU would have been in any
career and certainly YOU are not lazy. suppose
yoa are quite needed by these people here in Kem-
scott. You seem to the town and settle all the
difficulties OF everyone; but still" She regarded
me thQughtfully You are very happy Constance
she asked suddenly, little wistfuly.
As happy as a woman can be- | said. - My lie
is very full and beautiful, Barbara dear.
She looked at me with bit OF a sad and hungry,
unsatised look in her eyes, and then without saying
ANYTHING more walked out into the garden down
the straight box bordered path until | lost sight
Of her in the Shruhbery.
Malcolm came back from town night quite
out of patience with his cousin. Did you ever
hear her speak OF Whttemore, the editor of The
New Decade =" he asked throwing himself back
in the Morris chair on the garden veranda.
"Whittemore: No, don't remember ever hear
ing her speak OF him. | said " hat about hIm!'
We'll" said Malcolm, 1t seems that White
more, who is a splendid fellow, by the way, IS
desperately in love with Barbara, and | think
she must Tor him bit; but they cannot
come to any understanding He dlsapproveS
highly OF the woman with a career, but he loves
the real Barbara that lies underneath. She VOWS
she will not give up her lfework for him though
what in thunder her lifcwork really is l cannot
understand" sputtcred Malcolm
little soul Miss Barber is, She said sitting down
the upper step and burying her face in the
flowers. She almost converts me to the life OF
Vegetating here in your Crawford Then she sat
up and squared her broad shoulders But 1
must accomplish something FIRST she said in
her alert business ike way. And that means
that | must 90 back town in a day or two,
Constance The proof sheets of The Clarion
Call must be finished At once, they write me- for
the book Is 70 come out this fall. Next time
come TO kclmSCott,' she turned and leaned
against my knee in chdlike attectionatc way,
unlike the old Barbara the next time | come
| shall be a famous woman, perhaps" "
Malcolm had slipped away, the twilight was
falling the garden 1t WAS a time for con-
tldenceS, and 50 Barbara almost without rcaliZ-
ing 1t, began to tell me little about her love
story. 1t was easy to see that it was more
than mere episode. | knew that Barbara
struggling with all her might against this
love that bid fair TO be a life history, and not
"A thing apart as She had planned long ago. She
could never be happy a domestic woman. she SAID.
She would tcel that she retrograding dcgcncrat
ing. Besides, she willing to give in to a man
TO the extent OF giving up her If She ever
married, she must have her equal rights, she must
lead her broad indcDcndent life