The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-12-29

aunt, is she?'
mo, but she took me when 1 was
little, and she's kept me and raised
me, and all for nothing"
For nothing, yes, and you've work.
ed like slave for her. She couldn't
pay a hired girl to do what you've
done." avowed Jasper heate1ly.
AS silence fell his shyness return.
ed. He walked awkwardly, Kicking at
the stones in his path or switching
aimlessly at the tall reedy growth by
the roadside. When they reached the
picnic ground, a wide, cleared space
in the woods by a rushing stream. he
withdrew to a distance and Barbara
joined group of chattering girls by
one of the swings.
He kept shyly apart from her cur
ing the afternoon, though his eyes
followed her everywhere with a dumb
worship. When twilight came and
they began to flock homeward in
chattering groups of twos and threes.
Barbara had an instant's pang lest he
should fail her, but moment later he
fell into step at her side.
With the homeward walk came
back the crushing fear Of wha'. might
befall her as a result Of her disobe-
dience. She knew only too we'll the
harsh ill-temper of her aunt. She
Jagged more and more slowly, till all
the happy, laughter-loving crowd had
left them. Jasper Jagged: even one
step slower, seeming loa:h to bring
the silent walk to an eEd. Yet the
twilight. the solitariness, the very
nearness to the object Of his devo-
ton bred in him a para.yzing shyness,
very agony Of se?f-consciousness.
Never, perhaps, wou:1 he have a
chance like this again, yet the very
thought Of speaking, of even reaching
out and touching the little hard THAI
swung near him, brought the persp1ra'
ton in great beads to his brow.
Barbara, with the growing intuition
Of awakened womanhood, vaguely
realized all this.
AS they came in sight Of the houI
her heart began to beat painfully
She moved closer to Jasper.
I'm frightened" she whispered.
For the second time that day q firt
Of indignation swept Jasper's self
consciousness from him. His hand
went out suddenly and grasped her
small one.
Don't you be afraid" he said
soothingly.
They came opposite the window
Inside Aunt Hepzibah sat, waiting
Her jaws were set in a heavy, pur
poseful revenge. Barbara graspet
Jasper's arm with q little hlf-sob.
"Oh IL hate her!" she whispered.
Jasper stood Silent, staring at tho
woman, and with the helpless, trem.
bling touch on his arm there surged
up within h'm mighty passion. He
shook. BarCara's hand from his arm
almost roughly and took three great
strides toward the house. Then he
halted, suddenly, and turned.
You come with me-" he said.
She had to run to keep up with
him. There was no breath left for
speech. Presently they turned In at
a gateway.
"Why, it's the Minister'S" painted
Barbara.
Jasper knocked loudly at the door.
I'VE want to get married." an.
nounce'i Jasper, steady fire burning
in his eyes.
''Well, now, I'm sure!" exclaimed
the minister's wife bewilderedly
why. it's little Barbara Larsen and
and Jasper! Well, we'll, well!" She
led them into the front room and
disappeared.
mighty good thing" they heard
the minister say. THAT child leads
dogs life" He strobe into the room
well, well!" he said kindly, sc
you want to get married.! That's
right, Jasper. You're doing fine with
the farm now. A wife is just what
you need to make the old place looB
right" He stood them up before hin.
When it was over and they were
again outside, Jasper took Barbara'a
hand in his.
Come" he said.
They walked, hand in hand and
speeches., down the village street
and along the road that led to Jas
per's farm. As they reached the
gateway the moon peeped out from
under cloud and flooded the or
chard with silver light. Jasper
stopped and gazed dazedly about a,
the familiar scene, then down at his
wife's dropping head.
"Barbara!" he whispered unbeliev
ingly.
She looked up, her eyes still dars
with WONDER
He took her suddenly in his arms.
The pent-up longing of two endless
years seemed to eliminate In that
moment
why, Barbara!" he cried passion.
ately. you're mine-you're mine!
Ard didn't know I was doing it,"
U-Y Y~4~ -Y