Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1909-03-17

rock. He went to the edge of the
precipice, and listened in hopes Of
hearing something, he hardly knew
what-a sound that might tell him
Waller had found his brother.
He heard nothing-no dip of
oars, no rattle of chain, from
the depths and darkness below. He
returned to Mr.. Jordan, and saw that
he was conscious and recognised him.
The old man signed to him to draw
near.
The end is at hand. The blood has
nearly all run out. Both are smitten
both the guilty and the guiltless.'
Jasper supposed he was wandering
in his mind.
I will tell you ALL said the old man.
You are her brother, and ought to
know
You are speaking of my lost sister
Eve!' said Jasper eagerly. Not sus-
picion crossed his mind that anything
had happened to the girl.
I shall soon rejoin her, and the
other as well. I would not speak be-
fore because of my child. could not
bear that she should look with horror
on her father. Now 1t matters not.
She has followed her mother. The
need for, silence is taken away. Wait
must gather my strength I cannot
speak for long.
Then from the depths Of darkness
below the rock, came the boot of an
owl. Jasper knew that it was Watts
signal to Martin-that he was search
ing for him still. No answering boot
came.
You went to Plymouth. You saw
the manager who had known my Eve.
What did he say?'
He told me very little
Did he tell you where she was?'
No. He saw her for the last time
on this rock. He had been sent here
by her father, who was unable to keep
his appointment
Go on
That is all. She refused to desert
you and her child. It is false that she
ran away with an actor
Who said she had? Not mot I.
Her own father, her own father-not
t.
Then what became Of her? Mr.. Bar
ret told me he had been to see her
here at Morwell once or twice whilst
the company was at Tavistock, and
found her happy. After that my father
came and tried to induce her to re-
turn to Buckfastleigh with him.
Mr.. Jordan put out his white thin
hand and laid it On Jasper's wrist.
You need say no more. The end
is come and I will tell you all. I
knew that one of the actors came out
and saw her-not once only, but
twice-and then her father came, and
she met him in secret, here in the
wood, on this rock. did not know
that he whom she met was her
father. supposed she was still meet
ing the actor privately. I was jealous.
loved Eve Oh, my God! my God!'-
he put his hands against his temples
when have 1 ceased to love her.?
He did not speak Cor some moments
Again from the depths, but more dis
tant, came the to-whoo of the owl. Mr..
Jordan removed his hands from his
brow and laid them fiat at his side on
the rock
7 was but country gentleman with
humble pursuits-a silent man, who
did not care for society-and I knew
that | could not compare with the
witty attractive men of the world.
knew that Morwel1 was a solitary
place, and that there were few neigh
bors. / believed that Eve was un-
happy here: thought she was pin
ing to go back to the merry life she
had led with the players. I thought
she was weary of me, and I was
jealous jealous and suspicious.
watched her, and when / found that
she was meeting someone in secret
here on this rock, and that she tried
to hide from me especially that she
was doing this, then I went mad
mad with disappointed love, and with
jealousy. knew she intended to
run away from me- He made a sign
with his hand that he could say no
more.
Jasper said in as quiet a voice as he
length the mystery was being re-
vealed The signs of insanity in the
old man had disappeared He spoke
with emotion, as was natural, but
not irrationally. The fact of being
able to tell what had long been con-
Stunning his mind relieved it, and per-
haps the blood he had lost reduced
the fever which had produced hallu-
cination.
Jasper said in quiet voice as he
could command, My sister loved you
and her child, and had no mind to
leave you. She was grateful to you
for your kindness to her. Unfortunate
ly her early life was not happy one.
My father treated her with harshness
and lack of sympathy. He drove her,
by his treatment, from home Now
Mr.. Jordan, l can well believe that
in fit of jealousy and unreasoning
passion you drove my poor sitter away
from MorweII-vor wore NOT lnoa1Jv