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

What eyes that Jasper had! SO gentle,
soft and truthful Could treachery,
cruelty, dishonesty Turk beneath
them?
A question trembled on Barbara s
lips. She longed to ask him some
thing about himself, to know the
truth, to have that horrible enigma
solved. She leaned her hand on the
back Of the chair, and put the other
to her lips
What is it?' she asked suddenly.
She started He had read her
thoughts. Her eyes met his, and, as
they met, her eyes answered and said,
Yes, there is a certain matter I
cannot rest till l know
1 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, ahe said. I am fully con-
scous and self-possessed now
Yes she said slowly Tt is right
that I should know for certain what
you are She halted. She shrank
from the question. He remained wait
ing. Then she asked with 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 emotion.
DO not be afraid she said. in
measured tones. L will not betray
you. I have nursed you and fed you,
and bathed your head. No, never!
never! whatever your crime may have
been, viii 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
divulge the secret. but I 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
in his temple. Barbara felt a fiutter
of conjunction in her heart. She had
again overagitated this unhappy man
when he was not in condition to
bear it. She knew she acted precipi-
lately, unfairly, but the suspense had
become to her unendurable.
I have done wrong to ask the ques-
tion,' 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 it
open, caught up the convict clothes,
rolled them together, and ran up into
the attic, where she secreted them in
a place none but herself would be
likely to look into.
A moment after she reappeareu,
composed.
A packman came This way with his
wares yesterday said Miss Jordons
grayely. Amongst other news he
brought was this, that convict had
recently broken out from the prison at
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
anything. Never let us allude to this
matter again, and / hope that as soon
as you are sufficiently recovered you
will so your way.
The door opened gently and Eve APP
peared, fresh and lovely as May
blossom.
Bah, dear sister, said the young
girl, let me sit by him now. You
must have a nap. You take every
thing upon you-you are tired. Why
Barbara, surely you have been cry
ing?'
I-cryingr exclaimed the elder
angrily What have l had to make
me cry? No; l am tired, and my eyes
burn
Then close them and sleep for a
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
a bunch of oxlips, dripping with dew,
in glass Of water.
How sweet they are!' she said.
smiling. Smell them, they will do
you good. These are OF the old
monks planting; they grow in album
dance in The orchard, but nowhere
4.