The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-06-04
The EDening Story
Tanning Barbara.
(By AilSa Lee.)

10y Alls5d Iee.)
Blake ST. John wondered what they
all meant by that continual reference
| to his fiancee.
Tanning Barbara, indeed" he
snorted angrily. What man could
ask for a sweeter, meeker little soul
than Barbara Barstow, whom an
obliging relative had suggested that
he marry if he expected any of said
relatives golden ducats.
Hang it all, Uncle Moses" Blake
had stormed, what do 1 care about
your money? Not enough to marry a
girl 1 never saw. No nice girl would
agree to such an absurd plan, any
way"
absurd, eh?" shouted Uncle Moses,
pounding his cane so violently that
Blake skipped out of reach. Under
stand, young man, that Barbara Bar
stow is my favorite niece of the other
branch of the family, and if you've
never met the Barstows it's high time
you did. And, moreover, If you don't
marry the girl she won't get any of
my money. and, bless her. she needs it.
They're poor as Jobs turkey. Uncle
Moses shook his head dismally.
do you mean to say that you'll cut
off Barbara Barstow if 1 don't marry
her?''
YES"
But it won't be her fault
I've said my say" said Uncle Moses
grimly. Then one day Blake had gone
over to see the Barstows and SO i'm
pressed was he by their evident pow
erty and shabby gentility that he paid
assiduous court to pretty, dark-eyed
Barbara, the youngest of the flock of
five girls.
He found it easier to love Barbara
than he expected, and one day they
became engaged.
And all the relatives held up their
hands in horror and asked one another
how Blake could tame Barbara. For
it appeared that Barbara was dread
full tomboy, quite semi-barbarian, as
Aunt PriSsy said jerkily.
Blake believed that when they were
married Barbara would give up climb
ing trees after birds nests, or scaling
fences and fishing, or any other of the
boyish sports in which she INDUCED.
But their wedding day came and went
and Barbara did not lose her love for
the woods and fields.
Blake admitted that his household
affairs were administered with
great system-aH the Barstow girls
were famous housekeepers. Even if
Barbara had spent the afternoon
riding around the country on her black
horse, Ponto, she was always ready
to grace the head of his table at the
dinner hour.
Uncle Moses gave them a handsome
present and promptly neglected st.
Johns.
Blake did not care for his own sake,
because he mad sufficient to live on
comfortably, but he worried about
Barbara's people. There were so many
girls and their future independence
had hung on Barbara's marriage in
accordance with Uncle Moses wish
Blake nd not expect too much from
this marriage-he was fond of Bar
bara and they were good comrades
but as for sentiment, they wisely re-
Trained from any substitute for the
real article.
One day Blake had a taste of Bar
bara's fiery temper. He had come be-
hind her chair and softly kissed the
curls in the nape of her pretty neck.
How dare you?" she stormed,
looking like an angry kitten.
But, my dear, am your husband"
expostulated the abashed young man.
81 don't care if you're my grand
father!" declared Barbara Il don't
want you to kiss me.yet!"
when may I-when?"
But Barbara relapsed into a cool
silence that Blake, offended, would
not be the first to break.
1t was a pretty state of affairs, he
told himself hotly, a pretty state of
affairs when a man couldn't kiss his
own wife.
sode of the stolen kiss the more he
became interested in Barbara
How could he tame Barbara?
That problem confronted him morn
pear to be worried about her hus-
band. She treated him with an airy
insouiciarce that sometimes provoked
him to bitterness.
Suddenly Uncle Moses died, and
when his affairs were settled up it
was found that he had made a will in
favor of the BarstowS long before
Barbara'S marriage, and, so far any
one could see, the marriage of Blake
and Barbara was an unnecessary sac
rifice to Mammon.
Aunt Prissy told all this to Barbara
one day.
My dear, it seems such a pity that
Moses tied Blake St. John down to
such a promise. I heard he was en-
gagged to that tall Miss Petit from
LaneSboro. 1t serves him right,
though, for making a mercenary
marriage
Barbara was very pale when she
went into the house, after seeing
Aunt Prissy drive off in her ancient
phaeton. She donned her riding
clothes and went out to the stable
after Ponto.
For several hours she rode like a
mad woman, up hill and down dale,
and when Blake, returning from town
in his little motor car, met her at the
crossroads, she looked like small
scared brownie.
What is the matter, Barbara ?'' he
asked, alarmed at her appearance
Nothing! I'll race you to the
gate,'' she challenged So Ponto and