The Spectator., 1915-06-29
WILD BARBARA BARSTOW
By AiLSA LEE.


 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 Do you mean to say that you'll cut off Barbara, Barstow if l 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 pov- 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
 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 indulged. 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 I am your husband" expostulated the abashed young man.
 T don't care if you're my grand father," declared Barbara. q don't want you to kiss me-yeti"
 Not yet?" echoed Blake. Pray. when may I-when?"
 But Barbara relapsed iRto cool si- lence which Blake, offended, would not be the first to break.
 It was a pretty state of affairs, he told himself hotly, pretty state of affairs when man couldn't kiss his own wife.
 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 it was found that he had made a will in favor of the Barstows long before Bar bara's marriage, and, 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, it seems such a pity that Moses tied Blake St. John down to such a promise. l heard he was en- gagged to that tall Miss Petit from Lanesboro. It 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 aft ar Ponto.
 For several hours she rode like mad woman, up hill and down dale. and when Blake, returning from town Tn his little motor car. met her at the crossroads, she looked like a 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 the runabout sped briskly along the road until they reached home.
 Before dinner, Blake seeking his wife, found her curled on the rug be- fore the library fire. All the dainty little ringlets were inviting his lips, so 1e coolly knelt beside her and kissed her.
 Barbara sat very still He stole a look at her face. It was turned wist- Nlly toward him.
 That is because I love you and I have the right" he said proudly.
 "But-you married me so that you would not lose Uncle Moses money" she reminded him.
 "The day before our wedding Uncle Moses confessed to me that he had