The Irish standard., 1913-07-05
ROMANCE TO ORDER.
Why Barbara Was Married In
the Old Blue Bingham
Affair.
BY SUZANNE GLENN.

BY SUZANNE GLENN.
Barbara had listened for the souno
Of Luey's light feet too many times
not to know who it was coming along
the road behind her, but she did not
turn until Clark Townsend drew up
and called cheerfully: Let me take
you home, Barbara"
IL did not know you would care
to. Clark" she hesitated, flushing.
"Of course care to-" he said, lift,
ing her in carefully and gathering up
the reins again.
For q time there was silence save
for Lucy's feet on the soft wood road.
The girl was evidently too i'll at ease
to speak.
Il have you in a trap at last, haven't
II" the man smiled, covering her cold
little hand with his big warm one.
And I'm not going to let you 90,
Barbara, until you tell me what 1t has
all been about"
What do you mean?" asked Bar.
bara.
Il guess you know what l mean.
What happened all of a sudden that
you should send me this?" He took
carefully from an inner pocket a fold
cd paper out of which something
dropped that shone In the twilight
How do you suppose felt to see my
girl running round with that artist
chap? / really think that deserve a
better explanation than have had"
"Oh, Clark" she walled suddenly,
you debut I'm afraid l cannot make
you understand. lust couldn't mar.
ry you?"
"Of course not, Barby dear, II you
did not love me enough. But l though
you did thought-well. never mind,
What came up, anyway"
"Nothing-that is the trouble. !
could not endure it! Nothing hap
pened to me, no experiences like 9th
er girls have. People have told me
since l was child that ought to
marry Clark Townsend. When l told
mother we were engaged, she said,
Why, Of course. I've known it this
long time. I've got everything plan.
ned about the wedding and your
housekeeping had been SO happy
before told her, but after that cried
myself to sleep-you couldn't know
about that, Clark. But that was the
beginning"
mo. did not know" Clark admit
ted.
Everybody knew, before we did
ourselves, that We ought to be mar.
ried at Christmas so that Brown could
move OH your place the first of jan
uary. And they knew we would spend
our honeymoon with your sister Grace
in Plainsboro. planned out the dear
est kitchen all but and blue. but when
mentioned 1t mother insisted moth.
Ing was so good as drab, and settled
the matter by getting me set of
those wretched gray cooking things
that I've always despised.
Il do not know what you will think
OF me, Clark, but that is the truth
about it! 1t seemed as If Just
couldn't endure ito be married &C.
cording to rule, and just to settle down
afterward and live by rule. I've lived
that way all my life and l know what
it means-I didn't dare try to endure
it," ..
But that doesn't explain that artist
fellow that has hung round you all
summer. Does he fill the bill better
than did, Barbara"
There has been this one comfort,
at least. no one. has known what to
expect: And mother has been flu.
rious!"
Young Townsend watched the girl
hurry up the path to the side door OF
the big, farmhouse with a whimsical
smile. Yes, he could see how her ex.
istence had been depressingly matter
of-fact for a romantic young thing
like Barbara Shepard. The unlovely
severity of the comfortable house told
its own story; its exterior prepared
one for a drab kitchen with gray
utensils.
Lucy" he said, shaking the reins
affectionately over the sleek back OF
his favorite gray. that child is long.
ing for romance in her gray little life,
and I take it. it's up to US to produce
the goods!"
"Barbary," said Farmer Shepard
next morning. looking severely at his
pretty daughter. didn't l see Clark
Townsend's gray mare out here by
our gate last night?"
Every likely you did. dad. He
brought me home from the Pine
road"
"Well. l don't want to see him here
again, do you understand" with ris-
ing irritation.
"Why, Hiram" expostulated his
wife, are you crazy? There amt a
nicer young man anywhere round than
Clark"
::Just the same I'm not going to
have him hanging round Barbary, and
I want you both to understand It,"
Then you'd better tell him SO,
yourself" retorted that young person.
indignantly. Il certainly shall not"
Il have told him. young lady"
roared her irate parent, land now I'm