Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1908-11-26

respect. Sic TOOK the man, though
she knew his heart was set on Rachel
and that he did not care a rush for
her. No.-I do not like the story. 1t
is odious.' She stood up and, beckon.
ing to Eve, left the platform of rock
Jasper remained where he had been
without closing the book, without
reading further, lost in thought Then
small head appeared above the side
of the rock where it jutted out of the
bank of underwood, also a pair of
hands that clutched at the projecting
points Of stone; and in another mo-
ment boy had pulled himself on to
the platform, and lay on it with his
feet dangling over the edge, his head
and breast raised on his hands. He
was laughing.
What. dreaming, Master Jasper
Jacob? Of which? Of the weak-eyed
Leah or the blue-orbed Rachel?'
The young man started as if he had
been stung.
What has brought you here, Watt
No good l fear
oh my dear Jasper, there you are
out. Goodness personified has brought
me here-even your own pious self,
sitting Bible reading to two pretty
girls. How happy could be with
either! Eli, Jasper?'
What do you want with me?' asked
Jasper, reddening; I detest your fun.
Which is it?' tainted the mischiev-
Gus boy. 'Which-the elder, plain
and dark; or the younger, beautiful
as dawn? or-like the patriarch Jacob
both?
Enough of this, Watt What has
brought you here?,
To see You, of course. I know you
think me void of all Christianity but
I have that in me yet, like to know
the whereabouts of my brother, and
he is getting on. I am still with Mar
tin-ever on the move, like the sun,
like the winds, like the streams, like
everything that does not stagnate
1t is hard thing for me to say,
said Jasper, but it is true. Poor
Martin would be better without you.
He would be another man, and his
life not bighted, had it not been for
your profane and hooking tongue. He
was generous-hearted fellow,
thoughtless, but not wicked; you,
however, have gained complete power
over him, and have used it for evil.
Your advice is for the bad, your
sneers for what is good
I do not know good from pad said
the boy, with a contemptuous grin.
Watt you have scoffed at every
good impulse in Martins heart you
have drowned the voice of his CON
science by your gibes. It is you who
have driven him with your waspish
tongue along the road of rdin'
Not at all, Jasper; there you
wrong me. 1t was you who had the
undoing of Martin. You have loved
him and screened him since he was
q child. You have taken the punish
ment and blame on you which he de.
served by his misconduct. Of course
he is a giddy-pate. 1t is you who
have let him grow up without dread of
the consequences of wrOng-dOing be-
cause the punishment always fell on
you. You, Jasper, have spoiled Mar
tin, not L.
Well, Watt, this may be so. Father
was unduly harsh. had no one else to
love at home but my brother Martin.
You were such a babe as to be no
companion. And Martin l did do
love. Such a noble, handsome, frank
hearted brother! All sunshine and
, laughter! My childhood had been
charged with grief and shadow, and
l did my best to screen him. One
must love something in this world, or
the heart dies. l loved my brother.
Love, love!' laughed Watt Now
you have that heart so full that it is
overlooking towards two nice girls.
suppose that, enthralled between blue
! eyes and brown, you have no thought
left for Martin, none for father-who
! by the way, is dying
! DYING exclaimed Jasper, spring
ing to his feet.
There, now!' said the boy; don't in
your establishment topple over the
edge of the precipice into kingdom
come
How do you know this, Waltz ask
/ ed Jasper in great agitation.
Because l have been to Buckfast
leigh and seen the beastly old hole
and the factory, and the gray rat in
his hole, curled up, gnawing his nails
and squealing for pain
For shame of you, Watt. you have
no reverence even for your father
Reverence, Jasper! none in the
world for anybody or anything. Every
thing like reverence was killed out
Of me by my training.
What is the matter with father
How should 1 tell? saw him nvH
ing contortions and yowling. l die