Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1908-10-15

PIE III ner cheek, in recognition of the
compllment,-'Mr Jasper, do you know
my mother is mystery 20 me as
much as pixies and fairies and white
ladies?'
! NO, L was not aware of that
She was called, like me, Eve.
! / had a sister Of that name who is
! dead, and my mothers name was Eve
She is dead.
l did not think the name was
SO common, and the girl,
fancied we We're the only two Ewes tina
ever were. I do not know what my
mothers other name was. Is not tina
extraordinary
Jasper Babb made no reply.
! / have been reading "Undine.
Have you read that story? o, il
has made me SO excited. The write
says that it was founded on what he
read in an old author, and that author
Paracelsus, is one papa believes in
So, | suppose, there is some truth il
the tale. The story of my mother is
quite like that of Undine. One night
my father heard a cry on the moor
and he went to the place, and found
my mother all alone. She was with
him for year and a day, and would
have stayed longer if my father could
have refrained from asking her name
: When he did that she was forced to
leave him. She was never seen again,
Miss Eve, this cannot be true
I do not know. That is what old
Betsy Davy told me. Papa never
speaks of her. He has been an al
tered man since she left him. He
put up the stone cross on the moor at
the spot where he found her. l like
to fancy there was something mys-
FERROUS in her. l can't ask papa, and
Bah was-I mean Barbara-was too
young at the time to remember any
thing about it.
This is very strange
Betsy Davy says that my father
was not properly married to her, be-
cause he could not get a priest to per-
form the ceremony without knowing
what she was
My dear Miss Eve, instead of lis
tening to the cock-and bull stories-'
Mr.. Jasper! How can you-how
can you use such an expression? The
story is very pretty and romantic, and
not at all like things of this century.
| dare say there is some truth in it.
/ am far from any intention of of
Tending you, dear young lady; but
venture to offer YOU a piece of advice.
Do not listen to die tales; do not en-
people of a lower class to
speak to you about your mother; ask
your father what you want to Know,
he will tell you; and take my word
for it, romance there always must be
in love, but there will be nothing Of
what you imagine, with a fancy set on
fire by "Undine."
Her volatile mind had flown else
where
Mr.. Jasper she said, have you
ever been to a theater?'
Yes
%, l should like it above everything
else. I dream of it. We have Inch
5ald's British Theater'' in the library,
and it is my dearest reading. Barbara
likes a cookery book or a book on
I cannot abide them. Do
you know what Mr.. Coyshe said the
0ther day when | was rafting on be.
sore him and papa? He said 1 had
missed my vocation, and ought to
nave been on the stage. What do you
.hink?'
I think a loving and merciful Pro
whence has done best to put such
precious treasure here where it can
pest be preserved
I don't agree with you at ALL said
Eve, standing up. I think Mr.. Coy
she showed great sense. Anyhow, |
should like to see a theater-@, above |
everything in the world Papa thinks
If Rome. or the Holy Land; but 1 say
"a theater. I can't help it; I think
t, and must say it. Goodbye! I have
Kings my sister left that I must at |
end to. I wish she were back Oh, |
Ir. Jasper, do not your
Everyone will be pleased to vel
ome her home
Because I have let everything go
o SKIES and sevens, eh?'
For her own sake
We'll, I do miss her dreadfully, do
lot you?
He did not answer. She cast him
mother goodbye, Ind danced off into
he wood, swinging her hat by the
lue ribands.
To be continued