The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1919-07-03

through the woods. He built a fire,
dried his own coat,f and put It " me
while l slept. He took care of me just
as my own father might have done;
found food, water, and a house where
we slept the first night; and where we
got horses. He has been splendid to
me all day"
"Well, he can't be our Jasper Holt,
dearie-it's impossible. He isn't a bit
like that"
EYES," said Jean, looking earnestly,
bravely at her sister. "Yes, Eleanor,
1t is your Jasper Holt. He told me
you did not like him, but I'm sure you
don't know what he really is-or you
couldn't, you couldn't possibly think i'll
Of him. oh, Eleanor" AND sud
denly Jeans courage gave way in q
flood OF tears and she threw herself In
her sisters arms.
"You poor, dear little girl! You are
all wern out and we are letting you
stand here and talk when you ought
to be in bed this minute" exclaimed
her sister, folding her In loving arms.
Never mind now, dear, you just Tor
get 1t till tomorrow. 1t was an awful
experience for you to go through all
alone with a strange man, and you
need a lot OF rest before you can tell
us about 1t. Come now, James will
send the man out to hunt for your
escort and you needn't worry any
more. We shall find out there is some
mistake. I'm sure the Jasper Holt we
know would never turn out of his way
to We anybody's life-he'd much rather
kill someone-unless he had some evil
purpose in it. It's possibly someone
who has used his name for fun or
something. Come now, Jean dear,
take of your hat. Why, child, where
did you get this ridiculous rig you
have on? It's good 1t wasn't daylight
when you arrived. 1t was thoughtful
Of your escort to bring you In the
dark. Your trunk arrived yesterday.
Come up to your and wash while
I have your supper put on the table.
rye kept it nice and hot, for I knew
you would be hungry"
Jean suddenly lifted up her head and
wiped the tears away. sn
"Td like to tell you Just a little FIRST,
IL you please" she said. ats no use
whatever for you to send out to find
Mr.. Holt. He vii mot come back. 1
am sure. I suppose he meant to-slip
away. He told me before he got here
that you would not want him. He did
not want me to mention him at all, but
I had to tell you how fine he has
been.".
Mrs. Harrington and her husband
stood looking at one another aghast;
while Jean, her hair ~disheveled, her
sweet face glowing with eagerness,
sketched most briefly but forcibly the
peril through which she had come and
the faithfulness and care Of her pre-
tector. More than one glance Of in
credulity passed between husband and
wife as the girl went on with her
story; and yet, as she came to her
final sentences, they perceived that her
protector and savior must have been
the Jasper Holt they knew and de-
spised. 80.
II guess it was Holt all right" said
Harrington, with an ominous frown,
and he did well to disappear like the
coward that he is. He knew he was
not wanted around here!". -.E. FL,
Coward" exclaimed Jean, cow
ard! Jasper Holt is no cowardl You
do not know him!" Her eyes were
flashing fire; her whole slender body
tense with indignation.
Eleanor looked alarmedly at her hus-
band, but tried to smile Practically at
her sister. Never mind tonight,
DEAR" she said soothingly, "he's evil
IDENTIFY appeared to you as an angel Of
light. He is handsome, I must admit
in a kind of a dashing, dreadful way
and of course anyone who saved you
and was kind to you would be under a
kind of glamour Just now. I'm sure
we're grateful to him for not letting
you drown. It's quite the unexpect-
ed; but really, when it comes to bring
ing you home, you're quite attractive,
you know; and I've nc doubt he
thought it would be pleasant to have a
little Irritation with a pretty girl. Be-
sides, I think he rather enjoyed put
ting James under an obligation to him.
I'm sure 1 hope he will know enough
not to presume upon this for further
acquaintance. He has been most un-
pleasant, not to say criminal, in a
business way-but never mind now,
Jean, wen talk about it more tomor-
row. Wait until you hear what every
body says about him and then you will
see we are not prejudiced. We don't
blame you for being grateful. Be as
grateful as you like-but don't have
anything more to do with him! Come
now, this is the way to your room.
Let me help you unfasten this ridicu.
lous frock. Where did you say you
got It? l know you neve had this in
your wardrobe when you started from
home and mcther-"a -. 80.
Mrs. Harrington chartered on, giving
the girl time to recover her Guinness,
for she saw that she was terribly ex.
cited; and Jean checked back the hot
tears that wellod to her eyes, and the
words CT protest against the injustice
to Holt, and went about her toilet.