The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-07-12
WILD BARBARA BARSTOW
BY AIlSA LEE.
BY AIlSA LEE.


Blake st. John wondered what they
all meant by that continual ,rence
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
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 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-all the Barstow girls were
famous housekeepers.
Uncle Moses gave them a 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 nare Of her pretty neck.
How dare your" she stormed
looking like an angry kitten.
But, my dear, | am your husband"
expostulated the abashed young man.
Il don't care If you're my grand
father!' declared Barbara 81 don't
want you to kiss me-yet."
mot YETI" echoed Blake. pray,
when may 1-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. pretty state of
affairs when man couldn't kiss his
own wife.
The more Blake revolved the cpl.
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
MIN to bitterness.
Suddenly Uncle Moses died, and
when his affairs were settled up II
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 promise. 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 of in her ancient
phaeton. She donned her riding
clothes and went out to the stable aft
err 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
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
he coolly knelt beside her and kissed
her.
Barbara sat very still He stole a |
look at her face. It was turned visit
fully toward him.
That is because I love you and |
have the right" he said proudly.
"But-you married me 80 that you |
would not lose Uncle Moses money" |
she reminded him.
The day before our wedding Uncle |
Moses confessed to me that he had |
already transferred their share to |
your people, but had learned to love |
you, and I would not give you up, al |
though Uncle Moses had conscience
stricken notion that l would.
Tut you, Barbara-you married me
"a man you didn't love-just to keep
your family from poverty" he con-
cluded.
The night before our wedding"
\. Il