The Washington herald., 1914-12-27
DAILY SHORT STORY.
BARNEY, BILLY, AND BoBs.
BY DOROTHY DOUGLAS.

By DOROTHY DOUGLAS.
(Copyright. lsl4. by the Mcclure NewsTapeE syndi.
Esther had always known Barney and
Billy and Bobs. She could not remem-
Der i day when they had not been a part
OF her life, although she did not reCCg-
nize them as a vital part. Since her
earliest childhood Esther had known
Barney as her boy chum. who lived on
the nearest farm to that OF her father.
Billy was the young mare who carried
Barney and the small runabout over the
country roads, and Bobs was the alert
little terrier who occupied his chosen
place beside Barney. When the snow
came and Billy was harnessed TO the Did
sleigh Bobs snuggled down between ES-
ther and Barney under the fur rugs and
slept soundly through many a moCnIit,
snOw-Clad country drive.
Neither Esther nor Barney had ever
reckoned on the day when another man
or another woman should enter the
scene and take his or her place in the
scheme of affairs.
But-the otker man had come. He had
dragged Esther from out her contented,
care-free life into 4 love enlargement
that threatened TO carry her on et1irely
from Barney, Billy, and Bcbs, ds well as
her every childhood associate.
James Carter had come out TO the farm
from the city in order that ne might gain
a certain knowledge Of intensive poultry
farming. In coming, he had fallen a
victim TO Esther's fresh chaUm and de-
clared himself her slave before the en-
tire population.
Barney was the first to congratulate
Esther on her engagement, and gave her
a resounding kiss on each apple blossom
check. Jimmy Carter did not exactly
like the proceeding. but, after all, Esther
had promised to be has, so why feel jeal-
Gus? He accepted Barney's affection for
Esther with good grace, because the de-
votion seemed like that Of brother.
Jimmy Carter was a lilxable sort of fell
low, and the feeling was unanIm Jus that
Esther had made a splendid match Tor
herself
Il am going to visit Jimmy's people, -
Esther told Barney with the undeTcUr-
rent of excitement that had entered her
being since the arrival of Jimmy Il ex-
pect to be frightfully homesick'
I'D hate to think you wouldn't be- -
Barney said frankly, but you may as
well become accustomed to the new life
you are about to enter. 1 an going to
miss you ten times more. because 1 have
only Billy and Bohs left to chum with"
When Esther made her preparations for
the visit to town, she wisely refrained
from stocking her wardrobe with country
dresses. Instead, she decided to 80 shop
ring with Jimmy's sister, and thereby ac-
quire raiment of which she would not be
ashamed while mingling with weH-
gowned people. Esther was only FEM
inine when she admitted her love for
dainty clothes. She was looking forward
with great pleasure to buying a complete
new wardrobe.
When, two weeks later she was COM
fortably ensconced in the beautiful home
of her betrothed and made to feel as one
of the family, Esther felt for the first
time that she was really engaged 10
marry Jimmy Carter. The entire change
Of life. the dressing for dinner and the
servants behind ones chair and all. the
formalities Of a well-regulated household
brought Esther TO sense OF resp ,nsi-
bility hitherto unknown to her.
OutYardly she was COMPLETELY at her
ease-happy and apparently nodded into
the new groove into which she had step
ped. InwardlY she felt a prisoner. Her
soul lOngedt FOR the open country ana
her fathers great, coy home She real
lied, when sitting about the Carter draw
ing-room in the evening that at home
she would be out on the moonlIt, snow
cad roads, skipping along to the rhyth-
mic click OF Billy's heels, Bobs would be
sleeping among the furs beside her, and
Barney would be urging Billy on to
greater speed. After a long drive they
would go back to her fathers great liv-
ing-room and sit by the log fire while
they slipped hot tea and ate toasted muf-
fins.
Jimmy" Esther said swiftly, while
her breath came in spasmodIc jerks, ''I
cannot marry you. My soul Is back in
the country, where I know every inch
OF the rolling hills and every bud that
blossoms on the wayside. feel like a
prisoner beating the stone walls for free
dom. and would hammer my soul away
until fell exhausted II had to remain