Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1909-01-06
3. BARRING COULD

dCCofuiHSly, she QlQ. she left the
house, and in the moonlight walked
through the fields and wood to the
crag and hurled the bundle over the
edge.
Now that this piece of evidence
against Jasper was removed, it was
expedient that he should escape with
out further delay-if he were still at
Morwell.
Barbara had little money of her
own. When she unlocked her desk
and looked at the withered flowers,
she drew from it her purse that con-
tanned her savings. There were several
pounds in it. She drew the knitted
silk purse from her pocket, and,
standing in the moonlight, counted
the sovereigns in her hand. She was
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 a trampl
ing in the lane-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 l will speak to
you; l will tell you ALL
1 do not wish you to speak. 1 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 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. Co.!
NO. answered Jasper. There is
no occasion for me to go. l have
acted wrongly, but / 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. must see that
they do not enter the court and do
mischief
Never mind about the cattle, l
pray you. Go. Take this money: it
is mine. freely give it to you. Coz
Why are you so anxious about me
if you hate me?' asked Jasper. Surely
1t would crafty hate to see me hand
cuffed and carried off!
No, l 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, / shall not be taken.
She flared up with rage, disap-
pointment. shame. How dare you!'
she cried. How dare you stand here
and set me at naught, when / have
done so much for you-when ] have
even ventured to rouse you in the
depth of right! My Godi 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, have deceived you
Be calm
I know only too well that you have
deceived me-all of u.s. she said pas
sionately. Let go my hands
You misunderstood me. shall not
no 70, P1r -. - ~..-~,.1S