Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1908-11-04
ID Y b

S. BARRING GOULD

not to have put the ring on my finger
till the hoop had been reduced. il
was very pretty ring.
Then the search was continued in
silence, without result.
Excuse me-, she said, after a while
may seem engrossed in my loss and
regardless of your disappointment.
expected that your father would have
been eager to forgive you. The father
of the prodigal in the Gospel ran te
meet his repentant son. I am sure
am sure you are repentant.'
will do all in my power to redress
the wrong that has been DONE sa- q
Jasper calmly
entreated Mr.. Babb to be generous
to relax his severity, and to send you
his blessing. But l could not win a
word of kindness for you, Mr. Jasper
not a word of hope and Lowell
oh, Miss Jordan, how good and h,nd
you are!' ;
Mr.. Jasper, she said in soft trem
ulous voice, I would take the journey
readily over again. 1 would ride back
at once, and alone over the moor, il
thought that would win the world
for you. l believe, trust, you are re
pentant, and I would do all in my
power to strengthen your good resolu
ton, and save your soul.
Then she touched gorse bush and
made her hand smart with the prickles
She put the ungloved hand within the
radius of the light, and tried to see
and remove the spines.
Never mind she sad, forcing q
laugh. The ring, not the prickles, is
of importance now If I do not find
lit tonight, / shall send out all the
men tomorrow, and promise a reward
to quicken their interest and sharpen
/ their eyes,
| She put her fingers where most
wounded to her lips. Then, thinking
that she had said too much, shown toe
great a willingness to help Jasper
she exclaimed, Our holy religion re
quires us to do our utmost for the
penitent. There is joy in heaven over
one sinner that is contrite'
I have found your glove, exclaimed
Jasper joyously. He rose and held UP
a dog-skin riding-glove with gauntlet
Feel inside if the ring be there,
said Barbara. I cannot do so myself
one hand is engaged with my whip
and skirt
L can feel 1.-THE foop-through the
leather
I am so glad, so much obliged to
you, Mr.. Jasper She held out her
white hand with the ring-fnger ex-
tended. Please put it in place, and
will close my fist till l reach home
She made the request without
thought, considering only that she had
her whip and gathered habit in her
right, gloved hand.
Jasper opened the lantern and
raised it. The diamonds sparkled
Yes, that is my ring said Barbara.
He set the lantern on stone, a
slab Of white felspar that lay on the
grass. Then he lightly held her hand
with his left, and with the right
placed the ring on her finger.
But the moment it was in place and
his fingers held it there, shock OF
terror and shame went to Barbara's
heart. What inconsiderateness had
she been guilty of! The reflection OF
the light from the white felspar was
in their faces. In a moment, unable
to control herself, Barbara burst into
tears. JASPER stopped and kissed the
fingers he held.
She started back, snatched her
i hand from him, clenched her fist, and
struck her breast with it. How dare
you! You-you-the escaped convict!
Go on; I will follow You have in
suited me-
He obeyed. But as he walked back
to Morwell ahead of her, he was not
cast down Eve, in the garnet, had
that day opened Golfer and made a
discovery. He, too, on the down, had
wrenched open for one moment a fast
closed heart, had looked in, and made
discovery.
When Barbara reached her home
she rushed to her room, where she
threw herself on her bed, and beat
and beat again, with her fists, her
head and breast, and said, I hate
hate and despise myself! hate-on,
lhow hate myself