Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1898-12-22
Chapter XIV

CHAPTER XIV.
60 said Mr.. Jordan, bring Eve to
me-"
Barbara obeyed mechanically.
Eve" said Mr.. Jordan, when HE
youngest daughter came timidly into the
room, tell me, whom did you meet on the
Raven Rock?'
She burst into a storm Of sobe. ind
threw herself ON her knees. "Oh, papa!
sweetest, dearest papa! Do not ask me!
l must not tell. | promised him not to
say. 1t is as much as his life is worth.
lie says he never will be taken alive. II
it were known that he was here the police
would be after him. Papa, dearw she
clasped and fondled, and kissed his hand,
she bathed it in her tears, 'do not be an
CRY with me. I can bear anything but
that. / do love you so, dear, precious
papaw
my darling" he replied, II am not
angry. / am troubled. / am on a rock
and hold you in my arm, and the black
sea is rising-1 can feel it. Leave me
alone, am not myself"
An hour later Barbara came in.
''What, papa-without light"
''Yes-it is dark everywhere, within as
without. The black spots have run one
into another and filled me. 1t will be bet
ter soon. When Jasper Babb shows his
face again, he shall be given up"
ooh, papa, let him escape this time. All
we now want is to get him away from
this place, away from Eve"
Cali we now want!' repeated Mr.. Jor-
dan. "Let the man off who has beggared
Ever
'Papa, Eve will be we'll provided for"
"He has robbed me Of her love-
"Papa, consider how beautiful Eve Is.
1t is quite impossible for a man to see her
and not love her. l do not believe that
Mr.. Jasper had any thought Of Eve at
first but little by little she won him, Like
kitten; and so she has stolen his heart
out of his breast before he knew what she
was about. Then, after that, everythinfi-
honor, duty went. | dare say it is very
hard for one who loves to think calmly
and act conscientiously! Papa, l sup
pose that Ewes mother was very, very
beautiful? Was Ewes mother as beaut1-
full as our darling?"
"Oh, yes, Barbara His voice shook,
and he raised his white hands to cover his
eyes. even more beautiful"
"And you loved her with all your
hearth
Il have never ceased to love her. 1t
is that, Barbara, which''-he put his hands
to his head, and she understood him
which disturbed his brain.
She was kneeling on one knee, with her
arms round her father. ''Poor papa! l
want to know really what become of Ewes
mother"
The door was thrown open.
eyes, that is what have come to ask"
said Jasper, entering the room, holding
wax candle in each hand. He had IN
tercepted the maid, and, as she opened the
door, entered, to hear Barbara's question.
The girl turned, dropped one arm, but
chung with the other to her father, who
had Just placed one Of his hands on her
head. Her eyes, from having been SO long
in the dark, were very large. She was
pale, and her cheeks ghstened with tears.
| She was too astonished to recover her
self at once dazzled by the strong light;
she could not see Jasper, but she knew
| his voice.
He put the misunderstanding were Of
silver-on the table, shut the door behind
him. and, standing before Mr.. Jordan
with bowed head, his earnest eyes fixed
| on the old mans face, he said again,
y eS that is WnaL nave come W dsh'
Where is Ewes mother?
No one spoke. Barbara recovered her
self first; she rose from the stool, and
stepped between her father and the stew
ard.
at is not you," she said, "who have a
right to ask questions. 1t is we who have
to call you to account.
"For what, Miss Jordan?" He spoke
to her with deference-a certain tone Of
reverence which never left him when adj
dressing her.
'sYou must give an account of yourself"
she said.
Il am just returned from Buckfast-
leigh" he answered.
'And, pray, how is your father who
was dying?' she asked, with curl Of
her lip and culver of contempt in her
voice
"He is WE'LL" replied Jasper. Il was
deceived about his sickness. He has not
been i'll. l was sent on a fools Grand.
''Then,' said Mr.. Jordan, who had re-
covered himself, what about the money!!
1.-The recovery of that is as distant as
ever, but also as certain"
ITO no cOntinuedO