Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1908-11-19
S. Barring GOULD

a great fancy to him. He was kind to
her: he treated her as a child, and
! accommodated himself to her humors.
! Barbara could not now be with her.
Besides, Barbara had not that crav-
| ing for color and light, and melody
and poetry, that formed the very core
of Ewes very soul The elder sister
was severely practical. She liked what
was beautiful as a well-educated
young lady is required by society to
have such liking, but it was not in.
stinctive in her, it was in no way
passion. Jasper on the other hand,
responded to the aesthetic longings OF
Eve. He could sympathize with her
raptures; Barbara laughed at them
It is said that everyone sees his own
rainbow, but there are many who are
colorblind and see no rainboWs, only
raindrops Wherever Eve looked she
saw rainbows. Jasper had a strong
fiber of poetry in him, and he was
able to read the girls character and
understand the uncertain aspirations
Of her heart He thought that Bar
! bara was mistaken in laughing down
and showing no interest in her enthu
siasms, and he sought to give her
vague aspirations some direction, and
her cravings some satisfaction.
Eve appreciated his efforts. She
saw that he understood her, which
Barbara did not; she and Jasper had
a world of ideas in common from
which her sister was shut out. Eve
took great delight in talking to Jas
per, but her chief delight was in lis
tening to him when he played the VIC
lin, or in accompanying him on the
piano. Old violin music was routed
out of the cupboards, fresh was or
dered. Jasper introduced her to a
great deal of very beautiful classical
music of which she was ignorant.
Hitherto she had been restrained to
a few meagre collections; the 'Mu-
steal Treasury, the Sacred Harmon
ist,' and the like. Now, with her
fathers consent, she ordered the OPP
eras of Mozart, Beethoven's sOnatas,
Rossini BoieIdieu, and was guided, a
ready pupil, by Jasper into this new
and enchanted world. By this means
Jasper gave Eve an interest, which
hitherto she had lacked-a pursuit
which she followed with eagerness.
Barbara was dissatisfied. She
thought Jasper was encouraging Eve
in her frivolty, was diverting her from
the practical aims of life. She was
angry with Jasper, and misinterpreted
his motives. The friendship subsist-
ing between her sister and the young
steward was too warm. How far would
Il go? How was it to be arrested?
Eve was inexperienced and Wilful. Be
fore she knew where she was, Jasper
would have gained her young heart.
She was so headstrong that Barbara
doubted whether a word of caution
would avail anything. Nevertheless,
convinced that it was her duty to in
terfcre, she did speak. and, of course
gained nothing by so doing. Barbara
! lacked tact. She spoke to Eve plain
Iy, but guardedly.
Why Bah! what are you thinking
Of? Why should l not be with Mr.
Jasper answered Eve to her sisters
eXpostuIation. 1 like him vastly; he
talks delightfully."-, he knows so much
about music, he plays and sings the
! tears into my eyes, and sets my feet
| tingling to dance. Papa does not OBJ
! ject. When we are practising l leave
the parlOr door open for papa to hear.
He says he enjoys listening. Oh, Bar
bic. l wish you loved music as l do.
But as you don't let me go my way
] with the music, and you go your way
with the groceries,.
My dearest sister, said Barbara, I
do not think it looks well TO see you
running after Mr.. Jasper.
Looks WellH repeated Eve. Who
( is to see me? MorwelI is quite out of
the world. Besides, she screwed up
her pretty mouth to a pout, I cont
run after him, he runs after me, of
course
My dear, dear Eve, said Barbara
earnestly, you must not suffer him tC
do So
Why not! asked Eve frankly. You
like Ponto and puss to run after you,
and the little black calf, and the pony
in the paddock What is the differ
ence? You care for one sort of ami
mails. and l for another. I detest dogs
and cats and bullocks.'
Eve, sweetheart-poOrB Barbara felt
her powerlessness to carry her point,
even to make an impression, but in
her consctentiousness believed herself
bound to go On-'yOur conduct is in
discreet We must never part with
our self respect. That is the guar
dian angel given to girls by God
oh, Bab.' Eve burst out laughing.
What a dear, grave old Mother Hub
bard you are! I am always doing.
and always will do. exactly opposite
to what you intend and expect.
know why you are lecturing me now.
I will tell Mr.. Jasper how Jealous you
have become
For heavens sake.' exclaimed Bar
bara. springing to her feet-she had
been sitting beside Eve-'do nothing
of the sort. Do not mention my name
TO him. l am not jealous. 1t is an
! insult to me 10 make such a sugges-
| ton. Do ever seek his company?
10 1 not shun it? No, Eve, am
moved only by uneasiness for you.
| You are thoughtlesS, and are playing