Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1909-03-18

OIu AS SS4I 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
l.
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 Bucfastleigh 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.
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. I did not know
that he whom she met was her
father. l supposed she was still meet
ing the actor privately. I was jealous.
l loved Eve. Oh, my God! my Godi'-
he put his hands against his temples
when have I ceased to love her?'
He did not speak for some moments.
! A croi he hut
tant, came the to-whoo of the owl. Mr.
Jordan removed his hands from his
brow and laid them fat at his side on
| the rock.
I was but country gentleman with
| humble pursuits silent man, who
did not care for society-and I knew
that I could not compare with the
witty attractive men of the world. I
! knew that MorweU was a solitary
place, and that there were few neigh
bors. believed that Eve was I'M
happy here: I 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 was
! jealous-jealous and suspicious. I
watched her, and when 1 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. I 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 a 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 a 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 we'll believe that
in fit of jealousy and unreasoning
passion you drove my poor sister away
from Morwell-you were not legally
married, and could do so. God for
! give you! She did not desert you: you
expelled her. Now I desire to know
what became of her. Whittier did she
go? If she be still alive, I must find
| her
She is not alive said Mr.. Jordan.
Then a great horror came over Jas
per, and he shrank away. You did
not drive her in a fit of desperation
Toto self-destruction"
Mr.. Jordan's earnest eyes were
fixed on the dark night sky. He NUT
tered-the words were hardly audible
Isl iniquitates observaveris, Dom
inc: Domino, quis sustinebit?
To be continued.