Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1908-09-16
Continued.

How beautiful the world looks
when one has not seen it for many
days!' he said.
Yes, there is a good shear of nay,
saved in splendid order.
When child is born into the world
there is always a gathering, and a fes-
tival to greet it. I am born anew into
the beautiful world to-day. I am on
the threshold of new life, and you
have nursed me into it. Am 1 too pre-
sumptuous if 1 ask you to sit here a
very little while, and welcome me into
Il? That will be a festival indeed
She smiled good-humoredly, and
took her place on the bench. Jasper
puzzled her daily more and more.
What was he? What was the tempta-
Jion that had led him away? Was his
repentance thorough? Barbara prayed
for him daily, with the excuse to her
conscience that it was always well to
pray for the conversion of sinner,
and that she was bound to pray for
the man whom Providence had cast
broken and helpless at her feet. The
Good Samaritansprayed doubtless, for
the man who fell among thieves. She
was Interested in her patient. Her
patient he was, as she was the only
person in the house to provide and
order whatever was done in it. Her
patient, Eve and her father called him.
Her patient he was, somehow her
own heart told her he was; bound to
her doubly by the solicitude with
which she had nursed him, by the
secret of his life which she had sur
prised.
He puzzled her. He puzzled her
more and more daily. There was a
gentleness and refinement in his man
ner and speech that showed her he
was not a man of low class, that if
he were not a gentleman by birth ne
was one in mind and culture. There
was a grave righteousness about him,
moreover, that could not be assumed,
and did not comport with a criminal.
Who was he, and what had ne done?
How far had he sinned, or been sinned
against? Barbara's mind was fretted
with these overcoming questions
leased with the enigma, she could not
divert her thoughts for lOng from it
it formed the background to all that
occupied her during The day. She con-
sidered the dairy, but when the butter
was weighed, went back in mind to
the riddle. She was withdrawn again
by The cook for groceries from her
store closet; when the closet door
shut she was again thinking of the
puzzle She had to calculate The
amount OF cake required for the har-
vesters, and went on from the calcula-
lions of currants and sugar % tne
balancing OF probabilities in the case
Of Jasper.
She had avoided seeing him of late
more than was necessary, she
had resolved not to go near
him, and let the maid Jane
attend to his requirements, aided
by Christopher Dayy's boy, VINO
cleaned the boo,s and knives, and ran
errands, and weeded the paths, and
made himself generally useful. Yet Tor
all he. resolve she did not keep it: she
discovered that some little matter had
been neglected, which forced her to
enter Lne room.
When she was there she was i'm
patient 10 be out Of it again, and she
hardly spoke TO Jasper, was short,
busy, and away in moment.
1t does not DO TO leave the servants
10 themselves, soliloQuised Barbara.
They half do whatever they are set
at. The sick man would not like 70
complain. l must see to everything
myself
Now she complied with his request
to sit beside MIN, but was at once
filled with restlessness. She could
not speak 20 him on the one subject
that tormented her. She had hersen
forbidden mention OF it.
She looked askance at Jasper, who
was no. speaking. He had MS hat OFF,
on his lap; h s eyes were moist, his
nps were moving. She was confident
ne was praying. He turned in a mo-
ment, recovered his head, and said
with his sweet smile, God IS good. 1
haye already thanked you. l nave
thanked him now
Was this hypocrisy? Barbara could
no. believe il.
She said, If you have no objection,
may We know your name. i have
been asked by my father and others.
1 mean, she hesirated, a name by
which you would care to be called
You shall have my real name he
said slightly coloring.
For myself to know, or to Tell
others?
AS you will, Miss Jordan. Ny
name is Babb.'
Babbi' echoed Barbara. She
thought to herself that it was name
as ugly as it was unusual. Al that
moment Eve appeared, glowing with
life, wreath of wild roses wound