Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1908-12-24

I do not understand
It came about this way. There was
a roll on the saddle of his horse, and
when came to undo it, that / might
put it away, I found that it was a
convict, suit Mr. Jordan stared.
'Yes!' continued Barbara, speaking
quickly, anxious to get the miserable
tale told Yes, papa, [ found the
garments which betrayed him. When
be came to himself I showed them to
Aim, and asked if they were his. At
forwards l heard all the particulars;
how he had robbed his own father Of
the money laid by to repay you an
old loan, how his father had prose
cuted him, and how he had been sent
TO prison; how also be had escaped
from prison. 1t was as he was flying
TO the lamar to cross it, and get as
far as he could from pursuit, that he
met with his accident, and remained
here
'MercifuI heavenl' exclaimed Mr..
Jordan; you knew all this, and never
told me-
T told no one answered Barbara,
because / promised him that / would
not betray him, and even now l would
have said nothing about it but that
you tell me that you know it as well
as !. No, she added, after having
drawn a long breath, no, not even
after all the provocation he has given
would / betray him
Mr. Jordan looked as one dazed.
Where then are these clothes
this convict suit?'
In the garnet. I hid them there.
Let me see them I cannot yet
understand
Barbara left the room, and shortly
returned with the bundle. She IN
folded it, and spread the garments be-
fore her father He rubbed his eyes,
pressed his knuckles against his
temples, and stared at them with as.
toaishment.
SO then, it was he--Jasper Babb-
who stole Ewes money?
Yes. papa
And be was taken and locked up
for doing SO-WhereI
In Princes Town prison
And he eecaped?'
Yes, papa. AS / was ON my way to
Ashburton, / passed through Princes
Town, and thus heard OF Tt ..l.
Barbara! why did you keep this
secret from me? II had known it,
would have run and taken the news
myself to the police and the warders,
and have had him reoaptured whilst
he was oil In bed, unable to escape
IL Was now Barbara's turn to ex.
press surprise.
But, dear papa, what do you mean
You have told me yourself that you
knew all about Mr.. Jasper
I knew nothing ot this. My God!
How thick the black spots are, and
how big and pointed!
Papa dear, what do you mean
You assured me you knew every.
thing
I knew nothing of this. had not
the least suspicion
But papa'-Barbara was sick with
terror-'you told me that this stood
as a bar between him and Ever
'No-Barbara. said that there was
barrier. but not this. Of this l was
ignorant
The room swan round with Bar.
bara. She uttered a faint cry, and
put the back of her clenched hands
against her mouth to choke another
rising cry. have betrayed him! Ny
God! My God! What have / done?'
CHAPTER XXI.
Called to Account.
Go said Mr.. Jordan, bring Eve to
me-.
Barbara Obeyed mechanically. She
had betrayed Jasper Her father
would not spare him. The granite
walls of Princes Town prison rose
before her, in the midst of waste
as bald as any in Greenland or ST.
IBERIA. She called her sister, babe her
80 into her fathers room, and then.
standing in the hall, placed her ell.
bows on the window ledge, and rested
her brow and eyes in her palms. She
was consigning Jasper back to that
miserable Jail She was incensed
against him, She knew that he was
unworthy of her regard, that he had
forfeited all right to her considera.
ton, and yet-she pitied him. She
could not bring herself to believe
that he was utterly bad to send him
again to prison was to ensure his
complete ruin.
Eve said Mr.. Jordan, when his
youngest daughter came timidly into
the room, tell me, whom did you
meet on the Raven Rock?'
The girl hung her head and made
no reply. She stood as culprft be-
fore a judge, conscious that his case
is hopeless.
Eve he said again, 4 insist on
knowing. Whom did you meet"
She tried to speak, but something
rose in her throat, and choked her.
She raised her eyes timidly to her
father, who had never, hitherto.
spoken an angry word to her. Tears
and entreaty were in her eyes, but
the room was dark. night had fallen,
and he could not see her face.
Eve, tell me, was it Babb?'
She burst into a storm of sobs, and
threw himself on her knees. %
papa! sweetest, dearest papa! Do
not ask me: must not tell. prom.
iSed him not to say. 1t is as much as