The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-07-22
ROMANCE TO ORDER
Why Barbara Was Married In
the Old Blue Bingham
Affair.
BY SUSANNA GLENN.

turn until Clark Townsend drew w
and called cheerfully: Let me take
you home, Eal bara?"
II did not know YOU would care
to, Clark, she hesitated, flushing.
"Of course care to-" he said, lift
Ing her in carelully and gathering UP
the relns aaaIn.
For ti4Ae there was silence save
for Lucy's feet on the soft wooG road
The 6.ri Was evidenly too i'll at case
to sp,ak
u have you in a trap at last, haven't
/! the Alun smiled. covering her cold
little haLd with his big warm one.
And I'm rot going to let you so,
Barbara until you tell me what it las
all been about"
What 90 you mean?" asked Bar.
bara.
Il guess you know what l mean.
What happened all Of sudden that
you should send me this?" He took
carefully from an inner pocket fold
4
dropped that shone in the twilight,
"How do you suppose felt to see my
girl running round with that artist
chap? really think that l deserve q
better explanation than have had"
oh. Clark" she walled suddenly,
you debut I'm afraid cannot make
you understand. Just couldn't mar
ry your
of course not, Barby dear, If you
did not love me enough. But though
you did thousht-well. never mind.
What came up, anyway"
"Nothing-that is the trouble.
could net endure it! Nothing hap
pened to me, no experiences like 9th
er girls have. People have told me
since VAS child that ! ought to
marry Ia X Townsend When | told
mothur We were engaged, she said,
Why, OF course. I've Known 1t this
long time i've got every lhing plan
ned about the wedding and your
house Nd pms. had been so happy
before told her, but after that cried
myself to sletp-you couldn't know
abou, dat, AK. But that was the
beginning.
NO. / did not know" Clark admit
ted.
Every body knew, before we did
ours ives, tat We ought to be mar
riGd at Christmas 50 that Blown could
move o.. yOur place the first OF jan
uary. And they knew we would spend
our hon ymoon with your sister Grace
In flalnsbUro | planned out the dear
est kitchen all bun and blue. but when
l mentioned it 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 IL 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 | 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 fu-
rious!"
Young Townsend watched the girl
hurry up the path to the side door of
the big farmhouse with q whimsical
smile. Yes. he could see how her ex-
istence had been depressingly matter.
of.fact for romantic young thing
like Barbara Shepard. The unlovely
severity of the comfortable house told
its own story; It's exterior prepared
one for 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 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 ! see Clark
Townsend's gray mare out here by
our gate last night?"
Very likely you did. dad. He
brought me home from the Pine
road"
Well. 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 q
nicer young man anywhere round than
Clark"
Just the same I'm not going to
have him hanging round Barbary. and
want you both to understand it." I
Then you'd better tell hin so, =
retorted that young person.
Il certainly shall not"
Il have told him, young lady"
cared her irate parent. land now I'm
elling you! And want this the last I
word on the subject. You and Clark
lad everything fixed up between you }
md you were not satisfied | don't I
now who was to blame, and | don't 2
are hut I'm not going to have that | H