Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1921-06-08
BARBARA-BABS
BY AGNES G. BRoGAN.

70. 1921. Western Newspaper Union. }

Barbara cambridge sometimes felt
that she had two personalities, and
whether the one adopted with the alb
breviation of her name was her true
personality, or the other Of the digni-
fed Miss Barbara, the girl herself,
could not determine. 1t all came Of
being born into wealthy, aristocratic
family on your fathers side, and one
Of sweet simplicity on your mothers
side. So Babs decided the matter Of
her dual nature.
The Bainbridges left nothing undone
that might further their granddaugh-
ter's natural advantage, while old
Gran'ma Burnie instructed her in
homely tasks and gave to her homely
pleasures. Barbara's mother died at
her child's birth, while the father, who
had truly loved his young wife, passed
most Of his later years in one of the
foreign offices connected with his vast
business interest. Barbara in her girl
hood had looked forward with secret
joyful anticipation to the weeks of
summer which would take her out to
Gran'ma Burnie's farm. 1t was there,
in ruffled pink Bingham frocks. that she
became Immediately "Babs," leaving
the cultured young person behind.
There was little attic room at the
farm cottage that Babs occupied.
where a rambler rose peeped its
fragrant head through the easement
window, and where across sun-steeped
meadows she could hear the first soft
STRINGS Of early morning. Babs had
loved to lie lazily awake in the laven-
der scented bed, listening to these
sounds and planning the freedom of
her day. Usually, as she rested and
as a part of the program awaited,
came boys happy song:
IF body. meet a body,
Coming through the rye.
If body, kiss body
Need a body, cry?"
Sometimes the air was half whis-
tied, the whistler absorbed for the mo-
ment with the departure Of unruly
Holstein's from their directed path.
And once, Babs looking down at the
big boy from her rose-screened win
dow, had dressed hurriedly, and in an
adventurous spirit forestalled him up
on his return. AS though by mere
chance she met him in the path that
led through the meadow; she was
busily picking buttercups and she
daringly sang his song. And the boy,
at her saucy smile bent suddenly and
unbelievingly, and turning back the
pink ruffle of her sunbonnet, kissed
her. Laughing, he had hummed back
as he went on his way.
"Need body cry?'
Bab's had not cried; she had been
angry. Oh! so very angry! And a
summer passed thereafter, before the
incident was forgotten.
To "Jim Evans boy" Bab's was
Gran'ma Burnies granddaughter, that
was all; while to the girl, young Jim
was the son of departed and be-
loved country doctor whom gran'ma
had known in his youth. Jim's moth
err was gone now, too, and the boys
ambitious planning seemed to have
helper to an exacting uncle. But
the time Of Bab's presentation to So
ciety sounded, and the little sleeping
princess of country lanes went back,
with eyes opened to new duties. Miss
Barbara cambridge proved a success.
socially; gratified, her grandparents
realized that they were rewarded for
their effort. She was lovely, too, with
the sweet freshness of the deplored
Burne's, and with their true look in
her eyes. Grandfather thought that
Barbara should marry an earl. And
so he sent her to join her father
abroad, and though no earl offered his
heart and hand, young lordling and
a good count did; and Miss Balm
bridge refused both diSdanfully.
If Carlton Lainsley was not an earl,
he was at least the only son Of
capitalist, and he was, and ever had
been, in love with Barbara.
SO she went quite alone out to old
Granma Burnie's. Gran'ma was en-
barrassed and apologize concerning
the attic bedroom, but Bab's again
with grateful sigh, placed her weary
head on the lavender-scented pillow.
And in the morning when the ram
bier tapped its summons at the case
ment window, Babs arose hurriedly,
and with thrill of excitement no for
eign land had brought, she investi-
gated the tiny closet for the old ging-
ham frock that she knew gran'ma's
sentiment would keep there, and
found it. The dress was still big
enough for her petite figure and then
across the meadows Babs saw him
coming; the boy Jim, man now big
and fine and yet recognizable in spite
of his proper cut clothing. AS Babs
flew down the stair his old song came
to her.
IF a body meet a body.
Coming through the rye,
If body, kiss body,
Need body cryV