Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1908-10-29

1t is not wicked to want to go to a
town. There is no harm in dreaming
that l am an actress. OH she ex-
claimed, held up her hands, and
laughed, that would be too delightful!
What has put this mad fancy into
your head?'
Two or three things. l will conffde
in you, dear Mr.. Jasper, if you can
spare the time to listen. This morn
| ing as had nothing to do, and no one
to talk to, I thought l would search
the garrets here. I have never been
over them and they are extensive.
Barbara has always dissuaded me
from going up there because they are
so dusty and hung with cObwebs.
There is such a lot of rubbish heaped
uD and packed away in the attics.
don't believe that Barbara Knows what
is there I don't fancy papa does.
Well! I went up to-day and found
treasures
Pray, what treasures%
Barbara is away, and there is no
'one to scOId. There are boxes there,
and old chairs, all kinds of things,
some are so heavy could hardly move
them. I could not get them back into
their places again. if l were to try.
so you threw the entire garnet into
.disorder?
Pretty well, but I will send up one
of the men or maids TO tidy it before
Barbara comes home Behind an old
broken winnowing machine-fancy a
winnOwing machine up there!-and I'M
der a pile of old pans and bOttomless
crooks is a chest, to which I get with
infinite trouble, and not till I was very
hot and dirty. I found it was locked
but the rust had eaten through the
hinges, or the nails fastening them;
and after working the lid about awhile
was able to lift it. What do you sup
pose l found inside"
I cannot guess"
No, l am sure you cannot. Wait
go on with your gardening. I VIII
bring you one of my treasures
She daIted into the house, and after
a few minutes, Jasper heard a tinkling
as Of brass. Then Eve danced out to
him laughing and shaking a tambour-
inc.
I suppose it belonged to you or Miss
Jordan when you were children. and
was slowed away under the mistaken
that you had outgrown
toys
No, Mr.. Jasper, it never belonged to
either Barbara or me. I never had one.
gave me everything of her
own I wanted. I could not have for
gotten this. I would have played with
it till I had broken the parchment, and
shaken out all the little bells
Give it to me. I will tighten the
parchment, and then you can drum on
it with your fingers He took the in
strument from her and strained the
cover. Do you know, Miss Eve, how
to use a tambourine?
No. I shake it, and then all the lit
tie bells Jingle
Yes, but you also tap the drum
You want music as an accompaniment,
and to that you dance with this toy
How do you mean"
I will show you how I have seen it
played by Italian and gypsy girls He
took the tambourine, and singing 4
lively dance air, struck the drum and
clnked the brasses. He danced be
fore Eve gIavely. with graceful move
ments.
That is it, cried Eve, with eyes
that flashed with delight, and with
feet that wished to dance. oh give
it me back. I understand thoroughly
now, thank you, thank you so heartily,
dear Mr.. Jasper. And now-I have
not done. Come up into the garrett
when I call
What for? To help you to make
more rummage, and find more toys"
No! I want you to push the winnow
ing machine back, and to make order
in the litter I have created
Jasper nodded good-humouredly.
Then Eve, rafting her tambourine
over her head, ran in: and Jasper re-
sumed his work at the flower-beds. |
Barbara's heliotrope, from which she
so often wore a fragrant flower, had
not been planted many weeks. 1t was
and needed pinning down.
Her Seeding asters had not been
Dricked out in a bed, and they were
each other in their box. He
took them out and divided their inter
laced roots.
Mr.. Jasper!' A little face was peep
ing out of the small window in the
gable that lighted the attic. He
locke up, waved his hand, and laid
down the young asters with a sigh, but
covered their roots with earth before !
leaving them.
Then he washed his hands at the
AbbOt's Well, and slowly ascended the
stair to the attic. 1t was a newell
stone flight, very narrow, in the thick
ness Of the wall.
When he reached the top he threw
Up trap in the floor, and pushed his
head through.
Then. inoeed, he was surprised. |
The inconsiderate Eve had taken some !
candle ends and stuck them on the |
binding beam OF the roof, and lighted |
Them. They cast a yellow radiance
through the vast space, without ilIum-
ming its receSses. All was indistinct T.
save within the radius Of a few feet /