Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1908-11-26

But mind this pursued the lively
girl; you must stop as soon as | am
tired
Then first, eager in all she did that
promised entertainment or diversion,
she took the Bible from Mr.. Babb's
hands, closed her eyes; pretty
smile played about her flexible lips
as she sat cropping with her finger
among the pages. Then she opened
the book and her blue orbs together.
'Theren she exclaimed I have
made my choice; yet-wait! | will
mark my place, and then pass the
book to Bab-I mean Barbie.' She had
a wild summer rose in her bosom.
She pulled off a petal, touched it with
her tongue, and put the leaf at the
spot she had selected.
Then she shut the Bible with snap,
laughed, and handed it to her sister.
4 need not shut my eyes said Bar
bara; 4 will look you full in the face,
Eve Then she took the book and
felt for the end pages that she might
light on an Epistle just as she saw
that Eve had CROPPED for an early part
of the book that she might have a
story from the times of the patriarchs.
She did not know that Eve in handl,
ing her the book had not turned it;
consequently she held the Bible re-
versed. Barbara held a buttercup
in her hand. She was so accustomed
to use her fingers, that it was strange
to her to have nothing to employ them.
AS they came through the meadows
she mad picked a few flowers, broken
the stalks and thrown them away.
There remained in her hand one but
tercup.
Barbara placed the Bible on her
lap; she, like Eve, had seated herself
on the rocky ledge. Then she opened
near what she believed to be the end
of the book, and laid the golden cup
on a page.
Eve leaned towards her and looked,
and uttered an exclamation.
What is it?' asked Barbara, and
looked also.
Behold the golden flower of Bar
bara was shining on the pink petal
of Ewes rose.
we have chosen the same place,
Now, Barbie, what do you say to
this? Is it a chance, or are we going
to learn our fate, which is bound up
together, from the passage Mr.. Jasper
is about to read?'
There is no mystery in the matter
said Barbara quietly; you did not
turn the book when you gave it to
me, and it naturally opened where
your flower lay
Go on, Mr.. Jasper eXhorted Eve.
But the young man seemed ill-dis-
posed to obey.
Yes said Barbara; begin. We
are ready
Then Jasper began to read:-
Jacob went on his journey, and
came into the land of the people Of
the east. And he looked, and be-
hold a we'll in a field, and, 10. there
were focks of sheep lying in it.
I am glad we are going to have
this story said Eve; 4 like it. 1t is
a pretty one. Jacob came to the
house of Laban just as you, Mr.. Babb,
have come to Morwell'
Jasper read on
And Laban had two daughters; now
the name of the elder was Leah, and
the name of the younger was Rachel.
Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel
was beautiful and we'll favored
Barbara was listening, but as she
listened she looked away into the blue
distance over the vast gulf Of the Ia
mar valley towards the Cornish moors
the color Of cobalt, with a salmon sky
above them. Something must at
that moment have struck the mind of
Jasper, for he paused in his reading.
and his eyes sought hers.
She said in a hard tone, Go on
Then he continued in low voice,
And Jacob loved Rachel; and said,
will serve thee seven years for Ra-
chel, thy Younger daughter. And
Laban said, 1t is better that I give her
to thee, than that l should give her &c
another man; abide with me. And
Jacob served seven years for Rachel;
and they seemed unto him but q few
days, for the love he had to h 4.
The reader paused; and again with
hard voice Barbara babe him pro
coed.
And Jacob said unto Laban, Give
me my wife, for my days are fulfilled
And Laban gathered together all tbs
men of the place, and made a feast
And it came to pass in the evening
then he took Leah, his daughter, ant
! brought her to Jacob
That will do said Eve, I an
tired
1t seems to me- said Barbara, in {
subdued tone, that Leah was despic
able woman, a woman without self
"A