Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1908-09-10
ID V ID

q BARRING GOULD

Yes, there is certain matter. l
cannot rest till l know
4 am sure, he said, there is some
thing you wish to say, but are afraid
lest you should excite me-
She was silent.
I am better now; the wind blows
cool over me, and the morning light
.refreshes me. Do not be afraid.
Speak
She hesitated.
Speak, he said. I am fully con-
scious and seIf-possessed now
Yes she said slowly. 1T is right
that [ should know for certain what
you are She halted. She shrank
from the question. He remained wait
ing. Then she asked with a trembling
voice. Is that convict garment
yours?
He turned away his face sharply.
She waited for the answer. He did
not reply. His breast heaved and his
whole body shook, the very bed
quivered with suppressed emot. on.
DO not be afraid she said, in
measured tones. I will not betray
you. l have nursed you and fed you,
and bathed your head. No, never!
never! whatever your crime may have
been, will l betray you. No one in
/ the house suspects. No eyes but mine
have seen that garment. Do not mis-
trust me; not by word or look will l
divuIge the secret, but l must know
all
Still he did not reply His face
was turned away, but she saw the
working Of the muscles Of his cheek
bone, and the throb of the great vein
lin his temple. Barbara felt a futter
of cOmpunction in her heart. She had
again oyeragitated this unhappy man
when he was not in a condition to
bear it. She knew she acted precfpi-
lately, unfairly, but the suspense had
become to her uncomfortable.
I have done wrong to ask the Ques-
| ton, she said.
No he answered, and looked at her
His large eyes, sunken and lustrous
with sickness, met hers, and he saw
that tears were trembling on her lids.
No he said, you did right to ask;
| then paused. The garment-the pri
son garment is mine
A catch in Barbara's breath; she
turned her head hastily and walked to
wards the door. Near the door stood
| the oak chest carved with the eagle
| headed man. She stood, threw ii
open, caught up the convict clothes
rolled them together, and ran up into
the attic, where she secreted them in
place none but herself would be
likely to look into.
A moment after she reappeared
composed.
A packman came ibis way with his
wares yesterday, said Miss Jordon
gravely. Amongst other news he
brought was this, that convict haG
recently broken out from the prison al
Princes Town on DartmoOr, and was
Thought to have escaped off the moor
| He listened and made no answer, but
sighed heavily. You are safe here,
she said; your secret remains here
she touched her breast. My father
my sister, none of the maids suspect
Ianything. Never let us allude to this
matter again, and I hope that as soor
as YOU are sufficiently recovered you
will go your way.
The door opened gently and Eve ap
peared, fresh and lovely as a May
blossom.
Bah, dear sister, said the young
girl, let me sit by him now. Yoc
must have a nap. You lake every
thing upon you-you are tired. Why
Barbara, surely you have been cry
ing%
I-crying.' excla med the elder
angrily. What have I had to make
me cry? No; am tired, and my eyes
| burn
Then close them and sleep for +
couple of hours
Barbara left the room and shut the
door behind her. In the early morn
/ ing none of the servants could be
spared to sit with the sick man.
Eve went to the table and arranged
bunch of oxlips, dripping with dew
in a glass of water.
How sweet they aren she said
smiling. Smell them, they will d.
Iyou good. These are of the ole
monks planting; they grow in album
dance in he orchard, but nowhere
else. The oxlips and the orch's suit
together perfectly. If the oXlip haC
been a little more yellow and the or
CHS a little more purple, they wouIt
have made an ill-assorted posy.'
Jasper looked at the flowers, tneT
at her.
Are you her sister,
What Barbara's sister,
Yes, her name is Barbara
OF course I am
He looked at Eve. He could trace
/ in her no likeness to her sister. In
voluntarily he said, YOU are very
beautiful
/ She cOIored-with pleasure. Twice
within a few days the same compli
ment had been paid her.
What s your name, young lady"
My name is Eve
'Eve!' repeated Jasper. How
strange!'
Twice also, within a few days, had
this remark been passed on her name
Why should it be strange?
.Rnnansn that was also the name