The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1915-11-03
WILD BARBARA DARSTOW
BY AILsA LEE.

Blake st. John wondered what they
all meant by that continual reference
TO his fiancee.
Tanning Barbara, indeedl" he
snorted angrily. What man could
ask for sweeter, meeker little soul
than Barbara Barstow. whom an
obliging relative had suggested that
he marry il he expected any of said
relatives golden ducats.
Hang it all, Uncle Moses Blake
had stormed. do you mean to say
that you'll cut off Barbara. Barstow If
| don't marry herr"
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, darkeyed
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.
Blake believed that when they we're
married Barbara would give up climb
ing frees 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--all the Barstow girls were
famous housekeepers.
Uncle Moses gave them handsome
present and promptly neglected ST.
Johns.
Blake did not care for his own sake,
because he had sufficient to live on
comfortably, but he worried about
Barbara's people. There were so
many girls and their future independ-
ence had hung on Barbara's marriage
In accordance with Uncle Moses
wish.
One day Blake had 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. 81 doL I
want you to kiss me-yet!"
Not YETI" echoed Blake. pray,
when may I-when?"
But Barbara relapsed into cool ST.
lence which 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. ,of ~
The more Blake revolved the epi
sode of the stolen kiss the more he
became interested in Barbara.
How could he tame Barbara?
That problem confronted him morn
ing and night. Barbara did not ap
pear.to be worried about her husband
She treated him with an airy in
souciance that sometimes provoked
him to bitterness.
Suddenly Uncle Moses died, and
when his affairs were settled up il
was found that he had made a will in
favor of the Barstows long before Bar
bara's marriage, atd so far as any
one could see, the marriage of Blake
and Barbara was an unnecessary sac
rifice to Mammon.
Aunt Prissy told all this to Barbara
''My dear, 1t seems such pity that
Moses tied Blake Sc John down tC
such a promise. 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 aud went out to the stable aft
er Ponto.
For several hours she rode like 8
mad woman, up hill and down dale
and when Blake, returning from towr
in his little motor car, met her a
the crossroads, she looked like {
small scared brownie.
What is the matter, Barbara?" ht
asked, alarmed at her appearance.
Nothing! I'll race you to thu
gate" she challenged So Ponto ant
the runabout sped briskly along tn,
road until they reached home.
| Before dinner, Blake seeking hi
wife. found her curled on the rug be
fore the library fire. All the daint,
little ringlets were inviting his lips, $,
he coolly knelt beside her and kisse,
her.
Barbara sat very STILL He stole
look at her face. 1t was turned wist
fully toward him.
THAT is because love you and
have the right" he said proudly.
"But--you married me so that yol
would not lose Uncle Moses money,
she reminded him.
The day before our wedding Uncl
Moses confessed to me that he ha,
already transferred their share 4
your people, but had learned to lov
you, and | would not give you up, a