Omaha daily bee., 1922-04-30
FINAL HsTALLMENT.
Barbara InserveneA

Barbara IntereneA
IYYirH the rssolu's tread of . srss'
M adler. Barbara left Uncle Nat At The
w steps and marched dlasonaiy s1EoO
the back yard TO her garage. Her mind was
made up. definitely and iIrsvoeably. for nov
shs knew. She knew that Clayton had bssn
led 10 Bennington by her own deeepuoa.
beginning In Jest. Of course. E1tsnuAtsons
Or no sxtenuations. q lie is lie. and Bar
hara never covered behind polite phrases.
She felt responsible for what had happened
for tho delay IN his splendid purpose. and
ashamed to look herself In the face II hs
should fail because OF her.
In Barbara's upiftcd mood she wanted b
confront the major at once. TO beard the o,d
Stark lion in his den. and tell him that 4
vas his own daughter. not Adelaide RaAny.
who had been meeting Clayton At the lake:
and the note should have been addressed TO
Miss Stark. When her father nrst spoke
Of knowing about the note. Barbara had
sprung up from her window to 60 In before
them all and tell the whole truth. But that
would only start an endlcas wrangle, and
Clayton would never get away. No. Barhar.
bad practical head. and shed help him In
. practical way. then come home and nsht
u out with her father.
The notion tsckled Barbara She laughed
In anticipation Of their candid family gather.
Ing. with F1orian jawing at Adelaide. and
Adelaide spatting back. while the major
bluntly swore that II Stark woman had
made darn fool Of herself. she must let no
ether woman, or man. suffer BY Il How he'd
storm and rage, With picturesque denuncia.
lions Of his daughters trystinss. and her
midnight drive With Clayton to vicksbury.
OF course the doctor would put In few hon.
sst words. And Barbara could say what she
thought about Florian-which alone would
b worth the price Of admission. They'd
hold an open session. free for all whers
svery fellow spoke his mind regardless of
sore toes. or who got mad. Let them IN
get mad, the madder the better. Then
things would clear mp. with combatants and
nsutrals knowing precisely where they stood.
II was . lovely powder magazine, and Rar.
hara itchsd to nrs It on the instant she came
back from vicksburs.
But first she must square herself by speed
ing Clayton on his way. and falling him the
truth. Moreover. Barbara had the dsvf In
her bigger than q mule, and-what IN ad.
venture
Straight to the garage she went, took
down her ulster from IT. peg. and her Cog.
sisa Two swift hands tucked up her hair
bsneath the cap. and Barbara was ready.
without lights, her phantom automobile
slipped along the driveway. passed out Of
Bennington gate. and halted under the big
oak.
II HGrbaxa's fairy godmother had CREASED
the ooss Of happy chance. its wheels could
nct havs rsvoivsd moro smoothly. In The
blsek iptenaity a night her pu1rtns car stood
Undesirable beneath the oak: and IT. driver
asausd only . giboous bot Tho GIRL shtv.
3sd with most delicious exaltation. and
A~ compstsnt fingers sripped tho xhesl q
shs heard the stsps Of man Who avoided the
g1aveisd path and trod soundlessiy upon
TIE trf beside II They were coming. and
poks no word, not even the incessant CAB
bier, Nat He led Clayton directly to her
ear. himself opening the rear door With .
cautos -Git IN here. Mister Stuart. Git
In
II seemed most singular. but when Clay.
ton stepped into the automobile hs caught
again the nme elusive breath Of new mown
hay. with its memories Of tho lake and Of
Adelaide ImaSinaton7 Yea. But inag.
nation strangely real. ana very near. 10 near
that the exiled lover must always take It
with him.