Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1909-02-25
CHAPTER XLVI.
'Preciosa.'

Eve had lost something Of her light.
heartcdness; in spite Of herself she
was made 10 think, and grave alteTn
ativcs were forced upon her for de-
cisiOn The careless girl was drag
ged in OppO tie directions by two men
equally selfish and conCeited, the one
prosaic ana clever, the other aesthetis
and ungifted; each actuated by the
coarsest self-seeking, neither regard
ing the happiness of the child. Martin
had a passionate fancy for her, and
had formed some fantastic scheme OF
turning her into a singer and an &C
tress; and Mr., COyshe thought OF
pushing his way in town by the aid OF
her money.
Eve was without any strength OF
character, but she had obstinacy, and
where her pleasure was concerned
she could be very obstinate. Hitherto
she had not been required to act with
independence. She had submitted in
most things 70 the will Of her father
and sister, but then their will had
been to give her pleasure and save
her annoyance. She had learned
always to get her own way by an ex,
hibition of peeVishness if crossed.
Now she had completely set her
heart on going to Plymouth She
was DESTROYS to know something
about her mother, as her father might
not be questioned concerning her; and
she burned with eagerness to see a
play. 1t would be hard to say which
motive predominated. One alone
hight have been beaten down by Bar
bara's opposition, but two plated it
out and together made so tough a
string that it could nat be broken. Bal
bara did what she could, but her ut
most was ayaiIing. Eve. had sufficient
Shrewdness to insist on her desire to
seek and converse with a friend of her
mother, and to say as little as pos
sible about her other motive. Barbara
could appreciate one, she would see
no force in the other,
Eve carried her point Barbara con
scented to her going under the escort
of Jasper. They were to ride to Beer
Ferris and thence take a boat. They
were not to stay in Plymouth, but
return the same day. The tide was
favorable; they would probably be
home by three o'clock in the morn.
ing, and Barbara would sit up for
them. 1t was important that Mr.. Jor-
dan should know something of the ex.
yrhT
him. As for Martin she would pro
vide for him, though she could not un-
dertaBe to find him duck and green
peas and crusted port every day.
One further arrangement was made.
Eve was engaged to Mr.. Coyshe.
therefore the young doctor was to be
invited TO join Eve and Jasper at
Beer Aston, and accompany her to
Plymouth. A note was dispatched TO
him to prepare him, and to ask him
to have a boat in readiness, and to
allow of the horses being put in his
stables.
Thus, everything was settled. if
not absolutely in accordance with
Ewes wishes-she objected to the
company Of the dOctor-yeU sufficient
ly 50 to make her happy. Her happi-
ness became greater as the time aD-
preached for her departure. and then
she left she was in as joyful a mood
as any in which Barbara had ever
seen her.
Everything went well. The weather
was fine, and the air and landscape
pleasant; not that Eve regarded either
as she rode to Beer Aston. There the
tiresome surgeon joined her and Jas
Jer. and insisted on giving them re-
freshments. Eve was impatient to be
on her way again, and was kindly civ
il in her refusal; but the harness Of
self-conceit was to dense over the
doctors breast for him TO receive a
wound from her light words.
In due course Plymouth was reached
and, as there was time to spare, Eve.
by her sisters directions. went to a
convent, where were some nuns OF
their acquaintance, and stayed there
till fetched by the two young men TO
go with them to the theater. Jasper
had written before and secured
tickets.
At last Eve sat in a theater-the
ambition, the dream of her youth was
gratifed She occupied a stall be-