Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1908-10-08
s. Barring GOULD


Yes. you are
May I have a few words win you
in private? :
ooh, there is no one in the house, ex-
cept my housekeeper, and she is deaf.
You can say what you want here.
who is there to takemyhorse?
'You can hold him by the bride, and
talk to me where you stand. There's
no occasion for you to come in.
Barbara saw into the hall; it was
fOored with stone, the Buckfastleigh
marble, but unpublished. The walls
had been papered with glazed imita-
ton paneIling, but the paper had
peeled off, and hung in strips.
A chair with wooden seat that had
not been wiped for weeks, a
set Of coat and hat pegs, some broken,
on one a very discolored great coat
and a battered hat. In a corner
buIging green umbrella, the silk de
tached from the whalebone.
You see said the old man grimly,
half turning, as he noticed that Bar
bara,s eyes were observing the in
terror; you see, this is no place for
ladies. 1t is a weaving spiders web,
not a gallants bower
but the girl hesitated, what I
have to say is very particular, and l
would not be overheard on any &C
count
All. ab!' he giggled, I'll have no
games played with me. I'm no longer
susceptible to fascination, and 1 amt
worth it; on my sacred word I'm not.
I'm very poor, very poor now. You
can see it for yourself. Is this mouse
kept up, and the garden? Does the
hall look like lap of luxury? I'm
too poor to be catch, so you may 90
away
Barbara would have laughed had
not the nature Of her visit been so
serious.
I am Miss Jordan, she said, 'daugh-
ter of Mr. Jordan of Morwell, from
whom you borrowed money seventeen
years ago.
OH he gave a start of surprise,
All, well. I have sent back as much
asI could spare. Some was stolen. 1t
is not convenient to me after this re
verse to find all now
My father has received nothing.
What you sent was lost or stolen on
the way
The old mans jaw fell, and he
stared bIankly at her.
1t is as l say. My father has re-
ceived nothing
I sent it by my son.
He has lost it.
1t is false. He has stolen 1t.
What is to be done?
oh, that is for your father to de-
eide. When my son robbed me- L
locked him up. Now let your father
see to it. l have done my duty, my
conscience is clear
Barbara looked steadily, with some
curiosity, into his face. The face was
repulsive. The strongly marked fea-
lures which might have been hand
some in youth, were exaggerated Oy
age His white hair was matted and
mcOmbed. He had run his fingers
through it whilst engaged on his ac-
counts, and had divided it into rats
tails. His chin and jaws were frouzy
with coarse white bristles. In his
black eyes was a keen twinkle of
avarice and cunning. Old age and
the SHOWS of the winter of life soften
harsh face, if there be any love i'll
it; but in this there was none. If a
fire had burnt on the hearth Of the
old mans heart, not a spark renamed
alive, the hearth was chOked with
grey ashes. Barbara traced resem-
bIance between the old man and his
son. From his father, Jasper had de-
rived his aqr1iline nose, and the shape
Of mouth and chin. But the express
sion of the faces was different. That
Of Jasper was noble, that of mis- father
mean. The eyes Of the son were
gentle, those of Mr.. Babb hard as
pebbles that had been polished.
AS Barbara talked with and ob-
served the old man she recalled what
Jasper had said of ill-treatment and
lack of love. There was no tender
ness to be got out of such man as
that before her.
Now look you here said Mr.. Babh.
Do you see that stretch of field yon-
der where the cloth is strained in the
sun? Very well. That cloth is mine
1t is woven in my mill yonder. That
field was purchased seventeen years
ago for my accommodation. l can't
repay the money now without selling
the factory or the field, and neither is
worth a shilling without the other
Move must all put up with losses.
have mine; the Lord sends your
father his. 4 wise Providence orders
all that. Tell him so. His heart mas
been laundering after mammon, and
now Heaven has deprived him of it,
I've had losses too. I've learned to
bear them. So must he. What IS
your name?-I mean your Christian
name%
Barbara
Oh, not Eye-dear, no. You don I
look as if that were your name
Eve is my sister-my halt-sister.'
All, ha! the elder daughter. Aud
what has become of the little one?'
She is well, at home, and beautiful