The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1874-12-03

! sne nau come 10 me with them. grew
to love her asno other mother ever loved
child. She was to me my all-my
husband-my religion. But for her |
should some day perhaps, have be-
come a cold, heartless woman OF the
world. She saved me--from myself
And she was so lovely There was no
fault that could sec in her Could Il
mother say more?
She had been mine for five happy,
happy years, and had grown to be a
beautiful child of eight--so beautiful
that the people on the street turned to
look at her, and called her "whi!e.
rose, and "red-rosc," and "wildrose,"
when they learned her fanciful
name. | had utterly forgotten there
had ever been time when | did not
own her, when, at last, there came Il
terrible shock to my remembrance 1t
was in the early fall, and bitter cold. |
had fires burning in sitting room and
library for several days; and at night
| ordered that the windows should not
be closed up early, as l had a fancy
that cheerful home lights shining out
on weary wayfarers might brighten
their paths and thoughts; aud my home
being Just on the outskirts OF the town,
it was no uncommon thing for passers-
by, at nightfall, to stop sometimes and
| look in.
| We were sitting together in the libra
ry-my darling and /. She cuddled up
beside me, looking over some pictures
of buds and flowers, when | heard a
footstep on the graycl-walk beside the
window turning, saw II wOmau's face.
walked over toward it. and it vanished
in the darkness. "Ah some poor
traveller, perchance," ] thought, "who
has dared to steal q look in on my home
happiness. hope she has little one
waiting for her somewhere - and /
kissed my Rosemarie in tho fullness of
my happy heart. The following morn
ing, very early, was told strange
lady wished to speak with me.
g She would not give any name, and
had no card, the servant said.
! went down Immediately, expecting,
as usual, in those cases, a solicitation
for aims for aims, I said As I enter
ed the parlor, woman, very beautiful,
young, and elegantly attired, roso to
meet me. Her manner was graceful
and impressive, and yet | saw directly
she was not n lady--nay, even past my
claiming her rs pure woman and sister,
You have a chiId2' she began, in
terroga ively
81 have" | answered, a little sur.
prised ut her strange, abrupt monner.
Walking over to where l still stood,
she glanced at mo with wild eyes, cry
ing
"You lie She is my child, and I
have come for berr
I stepped backward, and should have
fallen, possibly, but my quick ear caught
the patter of my darIing's little feet
upon the stairs, and as she came trip
ping into the rOom-Oh 40 pure, and
sweet, and lovely II summoned all the
strength and courage at my command,
and said, in low, firm tone to the
woman, who still glared at me:
Hush NOT word before her !"
She locked down at the child, and up
at me, and then-oh then, I saw my
darlings face in hers But with such
hideOus lines of passion such frightrul
marks of dissipation over all its beauty
and purity
What is your name?" she asked the
child, and her voice lost its harsh sound
and grew full and low as she spoke.
Coming to my side and putting her
little hand in mine, rs though she felt
some hidden danger, my darling
answered:
"I an mammals ROsemarie"
The woman made stop toward her
then ] cIasped her closer to my arms,
and whispered quickly:
"Go to your room, lock the door,
and open to none but me, and / kissed
her, and she ran away"
Now" said !, closing the door and
seating myself beside it, "now | will
hear all you have to say to me"
The woman lOoke1 down at mo
looked all over the room and back to
me again-then, seeing something in my
face. she seemed to lose her bravado,
and began in a husky voice, which grew
shrill and sharp as she went on:
"Who are yOu, that calls my child
yours? What right have you to her ?
You stole her; never gave her mp. |
have searched for her for years. have
found her Mt last, she is mine, and I'll
have h9r !"
/ shuddcred ut her words, but an
swered crlmly, and my heart seemed to
have gown still, so faint it throbbed
and bsa
"You ask what right I have to the
child? What right have yOu to the
little one you left to the mercies OF a
cold, wide worli? You threw her
away save1 her She may be born
of your body, but her soul is mine !"
She paced the room now, and mp and
down like some Gagged thing, then,
speaking with vehemence, she cried,
passiOnately
"I swear III have my child and I'll |
break every door and window in your
fine house TO get her." and she struck
the door with her clenched hand MS she
spoke.
"Sience !" [ commanded, looking
into her angry eyes with mine. lis
ten to me. and if when h We finished
WnhJ L Itfo tD say YOU ciu SUN lhho
her from me. 1 will yield her without a
word. Yes" continued, as she looked
up from the iringes of the shawl she
was tearing, and seemed surprised,
" yes, I will give her mp to you, though
it will break my heart aud ] felt |
looked the words I uttered.
She grew calmer, and I went on
earnestly: "For five happy years l
have been a mother to your little one.
took her, poor and friendless and
sick, from home of charity. She had
been rescued, they told me, from the
arms of drunken, deprayed mother,
who threatened TO kill the child if left
to her mercy. have ministered to her
comfort and welfare, physically and
mentally, all these years. She bears
4. -,