Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1909-01-07
8. Barring GOULD

standing in the moonlight, counted
standing before the gatehouse near
the old trees, hidden by their shadow,
! She looked up at Jasper's other win
dow-that which commanded the en-
trance and was turned from the
| moon. Was he there? How could she
communicate with him, give him the
| money, and send him off? Then the
grating clock in the tower tolled one.
! Time was passing, danger drew on
! apace. Something must be done
Barbara picked up some pebbles and
threw them at Jasper's window, but
her aim was bad Or her arm shook,
and they scattered without touching
! glass
All at once she heard feet trampl
ing in the Iane-and she saw also
! the lights were burning on the down.
| The lights were merely gorse blazes,
for Morwell Moor was being 'swaled,
and the flames were creeping On;
and the trampling was of young colts
and bullocks that fed on the down.
which were escaping before the fires;
| but to Barbara's nervous fear the
| lights and the tramp betokened the ap-
/ prOach of a body of men to capture
| Jasper Babb. Then, without any other
! thought but to save him, she ran up
the stair, struck at his door, threw it
open, and entered. He started from
his bed, on which he had cast himself
fully dressed, and from dead weari-
ness dropped asleep.
For Gods dear sake said Barbara,
come away! They are after you;
they are close to the house. Here is
money-take it and go by the garden.
She stood in the door, holding it,
trembling in all her limbs, and the
door she held ratified.
| He came straight toward her.
Miss Jordan! he exclaimed. oh
Miss Jordan! l shall never forgive
myself. Go down into the garden
| will follow at once. will speak to
you; l will tell you all
I do not wish you to speak. l insist
on your going
He came to her, took her hand
from the door and led her down the
stairs. As they came out into the gate
way they heard the tramp of many
feet, and a rush of young cattle de-
bauched from the lane upon the open
| space before the gate
Barbara was not one to cry, but she
| shivered and shrank before her eyes
told her what a mistake she had
made.
Here she said, 4 give you my
purse. Coz
No answered Jasper. There is
no occasion for me to 60 | have
! acted wrongly, but I did it for the
best. You see, there is no occasion
for fear. These ponies have been
frightened by the flames, and have
come through the moor-gate, which
has been left open. l must see that
they do not enter the court and do
mischief.
Never mind about the cattle, II
pray you. Go! Take this money; it
is mine I freely give it to you. Coz
Why are you so anxious about me
if you hate me?' asked Jasper. Surely
it would crafty hate to see me hand
cuffed and carried off,
No, do not hate you-that is, not
so much as to desire that | have but
one desire concerning you-that we
should never see your face again
Miss Jordan, I shall not be taken.
She f1ared up with rage, disap-
pOintment, shame. How dare you! /
she cried. How dare you stand here
and set me at naught, when I have
done so much for you-when I have
even ventured to rouse you in the
depth of light! My Cod! you are
enough to madden me- will not have
the shame come on this house of hav.
ing you taken here. Yes-I recall my
words do hate you
She wrung her hands; Jasper
caught them and held them between
his own.
Miss Barbara. I have deceived you
Be calm
1 know only too we'll that you have
deceived me-all of u.s. she said pas
sionately. Let go my hands
You misunderstood me. l shall not
be taken, for 1 am not pursued. l
never took your sisters money. I
have never been in jail
She plucked her hands away.
I do not comprehend
Nevertheless, what say is simple
You have supposed me to be a thief
and an escaped convict. I am neither.
Barbara shook her head impatient
ly.
I have allowed you to think it for
reasons of my own. But now you
must be undeceived.'
The young cattle were gaIloping
about in front, kicking, snorting, try
| ing the hedges. Jasper left Barbara
while that he might drive them into
fed where they could do no harm.
| She remained under the great gate
in the shadow, bewildered, hoping
that what he now said was true, yet
not daring to believe his words.
| Presently he returned to her. He
| had purposely left her that she might
| have time to compose herself. When
! be returned she was calm and stern.
You cannot blind me with your
! falsehoods,' she said. I know that Mr.,
/ Ezekiel Babb was robbed by his own