Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1908-12-17

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her sister: troubled she was because
she feared that Eve had connived at
! MS procee dings, and had lost her
heart to him-troubled also because
| she could not tell to what this would
cad; distracted she was, because she
| did not know what steps to take. Be
fore she reached home she had made
up her mind, and on reaching Nor.
we'll she acted on it with promptitude
leaving Eve to go to her room or stay
| below as suited her best.
She went direct to her father. He
was sitting up, looking worse and
distressed; his pale forehead was
beaded with perspiration; his shak
ing hand clutched the table, then re-
Taxed its hold then clutched again.
Are you feeling worse, papa?'
No he answered, without looking
at her, but with his dazed eyes di
rected through the window. No
only for black thoughts. They come
flying to me. If you stand at evening
under a great rock. as soon as the
sun sets you see from all quarters
the ravens. So it is with me. AS my
! day declines the sorrows and black
| thoughts come back to lodge in me,
and torment me with their clawing
and pecking and croaking. There is
no driving them away. They come
back
Dear papa said Barbara, 4 am
afraid l must add to them. I have
something unpleasant to communi
cate
1 suppose said Mr.. Jordan peev-
ishly, you are out of coffee, or the
! lemons are mouldy, or the sheets
| have been torn on the thorn hedge.
! These matters do not trouble me
He signed with his finger. They are
! like black spots in the air, but in
nstea of floating they fly, and they
! all fly one way-toWards me-
Father, I am afraid of Eve!'
WHAT His face was full of terror
! What of her? What is there to fear?
| Is she ilI?'
1t is, dearest papa, as l foresaw.
She has set her heart on Mr.. Jasper,
and she meets him secretly. He asked
! leave of you yesterday to go
home to Buckfastleigh; but he has
not gone there. He has not left the
! neighborhood He is secreting himself
somewhere, and this evening he met
! darling Eve on the Raven Rock, when
he knew you were here i'll, and I was
in the house with you
I cannot believe it, said Mr.. Jor-
dan, with every token of distress,
wiping his wet brow with his thin
hands, c,asping his hands, plucking
at his waistcoat, biting his quivering
! lips.
1t is true, dearest papa. Eve took
Jane with her as far as the gate, and
there an ugly boy, who, Eve tells me,
is Jasper's brother, scared the girl
away. l hurried off to the rock as
soon as told of this, and l saw
through an opening of the trees some.
one with Eve, and heard voice like
that of Mr.. Jasper. When | charged
Eve with having met him, she could
not deny it.
What does he want? Why did he
ask to leave"
I can put but one Interpretation
On his conduct. l have for some time
suspected a growing attachment be-
tween him and Eve. l suppose he
knows that you would never con.
sent
Never, never!' He clenched his
hands, raised them over his head, ut
tered cry, and dropped them.
DO be careful, dear papa, said
Barbara. You forget your wound;
you must not raise your right arm
1T cannot be! 1t cannot be! Never,
neVer!' He was intensely moved, and
paid no heed to his daughters eau.
ton. She caught his right hand held
it between her own firmly, and kissed
it. My Godr cried the unhappy man.
| Spare me this! 1t cannot BET The
| black spots come thick as rain He
waved his left hand as though ward
ing off something. Not as rain-as
! bullets
No, papa, as you say, it never,
never can be-