The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1874-12-04

rose, and "red-rose,' and "wiId-rose, 4"
/ when they learned her fanciful
name. 1 had utterly forgotten there
| had ever been a time when I did not
| own her, when, at last, there came a
| terrible shock to my remembrance It
was in the early fall, and bitter cold. I
had fires burning in sitting room and
library for several days; and at night
1 ordered that the windows should not
be closed up early, as I had fancy
that cheerful home-lights shining out
on weary wsyfarers might brighten
their paths and thoughts aud my home
being just on the outskirts of the town,
it was no uncommon thing for passeFs-
by, at nightfall, to stop sometimes and
look in.
We were sitting together in the libra
ry-my darling and I. She cuddled up
beside me, looking over some pictures
OF buds and flowers, when heard
footstep on the gravel-walk beside the
window turning, saw a woman's face.
l walked over toward ii. and it vanished
IN the darkness. "Ah some poor
traveller, perchance," I thought, Z" who
has dared to steal look in on my home
happiness. hope she has a little one
waiting for her somewhere |" and I
kissed my Rosemarie In the fullness of
my happy heart. The following morn
ing, very early, was told a strange
lady wished to speak with me.
She would not give any name, and
had no card" the servant said.
I went down Immediately, expecting,
as usual, in those cases, a solicitation
for alms-for aims, said As enter
ed the parlor, a woman, very beautiful,
young, and elegantly attired, rose to
meet me. Her manner was graceful
and impressive, and yet saw directly
she was not lady-nay, even past my
claiming her as a pure woman and sisterl
=" You have child ?" she began, in.
terTOga ively.
"I have" I answered, little sur
prised at her strange, abrupt manner.
Walking over to where I still stood,
she glanced at me with wild eyes, cry
ing
"You lie ! She is my child, and I
have come for her!"
stepped backward, and should have
fallen, possibly, but my quick ear caught
the patter of my darling's little feet
upon the stairs, and as she came trip
ping into the room-Oh SO pure, and
sweet, and lovely II summoned ali the
strength and courage at my command,
and said, in a low, firm tone to the
woman, who still glared at me:
"Hush mot word before her -
She locked down at the child, and up
at me, and then-oh then, I saw my
dar1iDg's face in hers But with such
hideous lines of passiOn-such frightful
marks OF dissipation over all its beauty
and purity
What is your name ?" she asked the
child, and her voice lost itB harsh sound
E-7I H.
Coming to my side and putting her
little hand in mine, az though she felt
some hidden danger, my darling
answered
I am mammals Rosemarie."
The woman made step toward her
then I clasped her closer to my arms,
and whispered quickly:
eco to your room, lock the door,
and open to none but me, " and kissed
her, and she ran away"
Now" said I, closing the door and
seating myself beside it, "now I will
hear all you have to say to me-"
The woman looked down at me
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 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 up. I
have searched for her for years. I have
found her at last, she is mine, and I'll
have her %
I shuddered at her words, but an
swered calmly, and my heart seemed to
have grown still, so faint it throbbed
and bea
You ask what right I have to the
child? What right have you to the
little one you left to the mercies of q
cold, wide world You threw her
away-T saved her She may be born
of your body, but her soul is mine !"
She paced the room now, and up and
down like some Gagged thing, then,
speaking with vehemenoe, she cried,
passionately:
s'l swear I'll 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 clenehed hand as she
spoke.
Silence !" I commanded, looking
into her angry eyes with mine. 6" Lis
ten to me, and If when I b we finished
what have to say you can still take
her from me. will yield her without
word. Yes" I continued, as she looked
up from the iringes of the shawl she
was tearing, and seemed surprised,
yes, I will give her up to you, though
| it will break my heart and I felt I
looked the words uttered.
She grew calmer, and I went on
earnestly: "FOr five happy years
have been a mother to your little one.
took her, poor and friendless and
sick, from home of charity. Shs had
been rescued, they told me, from the
arms of a drunken, depEaved mother,
who threatened to kill the child if left
to her mercy. 1 have ministered TO her
comfort and welfare, physically and
mentally, all these years. She bears
my name, and IS she grows to woman
hood, will be socially respected as my
daughter. At my death, all I possess
becomes hers and I love her. You
you are her mother! Dou you ask me
to give her back to you ?"
She did not speak, but kept on tear
ing off the fringes of her shawl then,
at last, with a bitter, hard laugh, she
said, IN sneering tone "It is plain
to be seer you never had a child I To
ask mother such q question:
I felt the sting she meant should.
but I answered her again True, I
have never had a child. I have never
been a mother-but and I looked
her in the eyes as spoke, as woman to
woman-"een you ask me for the child
again? Where will you take her
What viii you make of her ?" And
utterly gave way, weeping as I never
wept before. She rose from her seat
now, looked st me intently, for some
minutes, then coming close to where
sat, still weeping, she silently took my
hand with both hers, and kneeling,
kissed il, saying, In low, haIf-smoth.
cred voice IS I wish had known You