Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1908-11-05
CHAPTER XIX.
Barbara's Rinp.


the moor. He followed the tract
rather than road which traversed 1t
With evening, clouds had gathered
and much obscured the light. Never
theless the north was full Of fine sill
O. very haze, against which stood up the
curious conical hill of Brent Tor
crowned with it's little church.
When suddenly Jasper came up tC
Miss Jordan he took her unawares
She was stopping, searching the
ground, and, in her dark-green riding
habit he had mistaken her for gorse
hush. When he arrived with the Ian
tern she arose abruptly, and on recog
ming the young man the riding-whip
dropped from her hand.
Mr.. Jasper she exclaimed.
Miss Barbara
They stood still looking at each
other in the twilight. One Of her
white hands was gloVeless.
What has brought you here?' asked
Barbara STOPPING and picking up her
whip with one hand, and gathering
her habit with the other.
L heard that you had lost something.
Yes! l was thoughtless. I was
warm, and l hastily whisked off my
glove that l might pass my hand over
my brow, and 1 felt as l plucked the
glove away that my aUnts ring came
off. It was not a good fit. l was so
foolish, so unnerved, that let drop the
glOve-and now can find neither. The
ing, l suspect, is in the glove. but
cannot find that. So I sent on Johnny
OstIe- for the lantern. I supposed he
would return with it,
7 took the liberty Of coming myself
Re is a boy and tired with his long
Journey; beside, the horses have to be
attended to. l hope you are not dis
p eased,'
ON the contrary she replied, in
her frank, kindly tone I am glad 20
see you. When one has been from
home a long distance It is pleasant to
meet a messenger from home to say
how al are
And it is pleasant for the messenge"
10 bring good tidings. Mr.. Jordan is
well; Miss Eve happy as a butterfly
in summer over a clover field
If it had not been dusk, and Barbara
had not turned her head aside, Jasper
would have seen a change in her face,
She suddenly bowed herself and recon-
menced her search.
L am very, very sorry she said, in
low tone, 1 am not able to be /
pleasant messenger to you. I am
he half raised herself, her voice was
fulI Of sympathy. I am more sorry
than I can say
he made no reply; he had not, per-
haps, expected much. He threw the
Light OF the lantern along the ground,
and began to search for the glove.
You are carrying something he
said: let me relieve you, Miss Jordan.
1t is-yOur violin
Miss Barbara! how kind, how good!
You have carried it all the way?'
Not at all. Johnny OstIer had it
most part. Then Mr.. Coyshe carried
It. The boy could not take it at the
same time that he led my horse; you
understand that?' Her voice became
cold, her pride was touched; she did
not choose that he should know the
truth,
But you thought of bringing it.
Not at all Your father insisted on
is being taken from his house, The
hoy has the rest of your things, as
many as could be carried.
Nothing further was said They
searched together for the glove. They
were forced to search closely together
because the lantern cast but a poor
light round. Where the glare did fall,
there the tiny white clover leaves, fine
moore grass, small Acknowledgment
flowers Of the milkwOrt, white and
blue, seemed a newly-discovered little
world of lOveIness. But Barbara had
other matters to consider and scarcely
noticed the beauty. She was not sus-
CeptibIe as Eve to the beautiful and
picturesque. She was looking for her
glove, but her thoughts were not
wholly concerned with the glove and
ring.
Mr. Jasper, I saw your father She
spoke in a low voice. their heads were
not far asunder. 7 told him where
you we're
Mss Barbara, did he say anything
to YOU about me? Did he say any
thing about the-the loss of the
money"
He refused to hear about you He
would hardly listen to a word I said
Did he tell you who took the
money!
No She paused. Why should
he? I know was you
Jasper sighed.
I can see pursued Barbara, that
YOU were hard tried. I know that you
had no happy home. that you had no
mother. and that your father may have
been harsh and exacting, but-Out-
her voice shook. Excuse me, 1 am
tired, and anxious about my ring. II
IS a sapphire surrounded with dia
mOnds. I cannot speak much. I oNght
not to have put the ring on my finger
iii the hoop had been reduced. II
was a very pretty ring
Then the search was continued in
silence, without result.
Excuse me- she said, after a while
/ may seem engrossed in my loss and