Norwich bulletin., 1913-09-03

Barbara had listened for the sound 1 of Lucy's light feet tod many times l not to know who it was coming along the road behind her, but she did not turn until Clark Townsend drew uI and called cheerfully: Let me take you home, Barbara"
 l ''1-I did not know ycu would care te Clark" she hesitated, flushing: l of course I care to- he said, lifting 1 her in carefully and gathering up the l feins again.
 ] For time there was silence save for Luey's feet on the soft wood read. The girl was evidently tee Ill at ease to speak.
 T have you in a trap at last. haven't IF the man smiled, covering her ceId little hand with his big warm enc. And I'm not going te let you ge, Barbara, until yeu tell me what 1t has all been about"
 What de you mean?" asked Bar bara
 T guess you know what I mean. What happened all of a sudden that you should send me this?' He took carefully from an inner pocket a folded paper out of which something dropped that shone In the twilight. How dc you suppose 1 have felt to see my girl running round with that artist chap2 1 really think that l de- serve a better explanation than 1 have had"
 "Oh, Clark" she walled suddenly, you debut I'm afraid l can not make you understand. Ijust couldn't marry you"
 "Of course not, Barby dear. if you did not love me enough. But l thought you did-I thought-well never mind. What came up, anyway ?'
 'Nothing-tfat is the trouble. could not endure it! Nothing happen ed to me, no experiences like other girls have People have told me since I was a child that I ought to marry Clark Townsend. When 1 told mother we were engaged, she said Why, of course I've known it this long tirne I've everything tanned about the wedding and your housekeeping. 1 had been so happy before l told her. but after that 1 cried myself to sleep you couldn't know about that. Clark. But that was the beginning"
 NO, l did not know Clark admitted
 Every body knew, before we did ourselves. that we ought to be married at Christmas so that Brown could move off your place the first of Jan uary. And they knew we would spend our honeymoon with your sister, Grace in Plainsboro I planned out the dear est kitchen all buff and blue, but when 1 mentioned 1t mother Insisted nothing was so good al drab. and settled the matter by getting me a set of those Wretched gray cooking things that I've always despised.
 T do not know what you think of me, Clark, but that Is the truth about it. It seemed as If l just couldn't en- dure it--to be married according to rule and just to settle down after ward and live by rule, I've lived that way all my life and 1 know what 1t means-I didn't dare try to endure it."
 But that doesn't explain. that art ist fellow that has hung round you all summer, Does he fill the bill better than l did Barbara ?'
 There has been one comfort, at least, nc one has known what to ex- pect. And mother has been furieus.' Young Townsend watched the girl hurry up the path to the side deor of the big farmhouse with a whimsical smile Yes, he could see how her ex= istence had been dePressiHg1y matter of fact for a romantic young person severity of the comfortable house told it's own story; it's exterior prepared one for 6 drab kitchen with gray uten- sils.
 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 lire, and I take it. it's up to us to produce the goods!''
 Barbara" said Farmer Shepard next morning looking severely a his pretty daughter, didn't l see Clark Townsend's gray mare out here by your gate last night?"
 Very l likely you did; dad He brought me home from the Pine road"
 Well, I don't want to see him here