Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1908-10-07
S. Barring GOULD

With the handle OF her whip against
the door.
| Then she saw a face appear at =
side window, observe her and with
draw A moment after, a shutting
tread sounded in the hall, chains and
bolts were undone, the door was
cautiously opened, and in it stood ar
old man with white hair, and black
beady eyes.
What do you want? Who are you?
he asked.
Am I speaking to Mr. BabD?'
| Yes, you are
May I have few words win you
in private%
sOh, 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
idoored with stone, the Buckfastleigh
marble, but unpublished. The walls
had been papered with glazed imita-
ton panelling, 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 corner a
bullying 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 gallant's bower
But the girl hesitated, what I
have to say is very particular, and
would not be overheard on any ac-
count
All! ah. he giggled. I'll have no
games played with me. I'm no longer
susceptible to fascination, and 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 a lap of luxury? I'm
too poor to be a catch, so you may 80
away
Barbara would have laughed had
not the nature of her visit been so
serious.
L 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. we'll. I have sent back as much
as could spare. Some was stolen. 1t
is not convenient to me after this re
verse to find all ncw.'
MY father has received nothing
What YOU sent was lost or stolen Oh
the way
The old mans jaw fell, and ne
stared blankly at her.
Tt is as I say. My father has re-
ceived nothing.
I sent it by my son.
He has lost it.
IT is false. He has stolen 1t.
What is to be done?
oh. that is for your father to de-
eide. When my son vobbed me-
locked him up. Now let your father
see to it. have done my duty, my
- a1n
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
He had run his fingers
through it whilst engaged on his ae-
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
avariee and cunning. Old age and
the SHOWS of the winter of life soften
a harsh face, if there be any love III
it. but in this there was none. 1t
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 a resem-
blance between the old man and his
son. From his father, Jasper had de-
rived his aquiline 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 OBJ
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-
Dc you see that stretch of Held yon-