The Iola register., 1889-12-13


beyond her deserts. 81 never can atone to
him." she cried In her heart; ''Oat at least
will try"
Humbly and gently, earnestly and uD-
tiringly, she strove from day to day to full
fill her duties as q wife, to minister to his
comsrt and happiness in everv way. In
SO doing she grew .nose and more to love
the geDessus n::sre that never spoke
word of recrin,ek).ion, and that always
showed appreciation of her smallest effort.
She grew to love her husband with hun
CRY and despairing love-for she saw no
hope ahead. Although always gentle and
kind, there was ever gentle reserve and
reticence that seemed to say: 'Thus far
shalt thou come, and no farther"
And she could not blame himl She dared
not. He was now giving her far beyond
what she had any right to expect.
One evening, some months after Uncle
Aaron's death, Rose and Jacob were to-
gether in the library Jacobs favorite
| room. Rose, always beautiful, dressed in a
dress of some soft and clinging silk, sat,
dreamily looking off into space, thinking Of
herself, of Jacob and of Uncle Aaron.
1t was one of her quiet times when she
did not fret inwardly-only felt glad and
thankful that shecould be near him, humble
and devoted.
And Jacob? So true it is that love is
! blindi Why, he had always loved his wife,
and only her; but now that she had come
back to him, penitent and, OIL so gentle, he
could ask nothing of her, he could exact
nothing from her. That she loved him he
| never dreamed, and in his manly generosity
he would not demand any thing. All her
ceaseless care and vigilant watching for his
tastes and wishes he took to be but peni-
| tent gratitude, and not for one instant could
| he have taken advantage of that. Therefore
he was reserved; therefore he was reticent.
| He feared to be otherwise, for still in his
| heart, unchanged by time or trial, was the
| one strong love of his life. He felt that if
| he let go the leash he could not trust him
self.
He looked at her beautiful profile as she
sat there, graceful and womanly, uncon-
| scious of his gaze, and he thought: Show
| love her. How every tiny move of her
sweet mouth l love. How / long to touch
the silvery gold of her bairn And then,
man-like, he said and did the exact opposite
of what he felt 'Did you go to Goupifs to-
dayl" he said.
"What9 Goupirsln said Rose "Oh, yes,
did; but that painting by Kratzer was
gone"
Then with the fatal blindness of we poor
mortals when we should see, she saw moth
ing, but relapsed into vague and dreamy
reverie Of life and love. And life and love
were right there within her grasp, and she
knew it not.
Jacob sat, and looked and looked. Grow
| ing restless at last he arose and walked up
| and down. Rose was accustomed to this,
| and did not move Then Jacob stopped his
tramp, and resting his elbow on the mantel-
piece, stood-a man of whom any woman
might be proud.
"Rose," he said.
"Yes, Jacob" she answered, with the
wistful look that was now her habitual ex-
preston. "Yes, what is itl"
81 have been thinking that it would be a
good thing if you and Alice went to Europe
this spring, and spent a year abroad. She
has never been across the water, and it
would perfect her in her French and help
her in many ways"
Roses heart sunk with heaviness. She
felt a lonely sense of desertion, that made
her think duly: 81 wonder if Jacob felt
like this when left him long ago? If so,
do not wonder that he can't forgive me"
1t was some seconds before she could re-
ply, then she said, gently: 'If you wish it,
JacoD-lI you tnlnk IL DeSt.
"Yes," answered Jacob, misled by her
quietness into thinking that she did not
mind leaving him. "Yes, think it would
be good thing for both of you. 1t would
widen Alice's horizon in many ways by let
ting her see more of the world, and it would
be change and relief to you to get away
from here and all past associations"
sit might be of good to Alce-yes," said
Rose, slowly.
| Sand not to youl"
.sMy only good is to be near you," an
swered Rose, softly.
"What is that" answered Jacob, quick
ly. "Don't make polite speeches to me
| just to please me, Rose"
81 am only speaking the truth, Jacob
you know that"-gently still.
| "Rosel Do you mean to say that you
| don't want to leave met That YOU prefer to
remain here where am"
| "Yes, Jacob"
If he had not looked at her just then and
seen the hopeless droop of her head, per-
haps what happened would have never come
to pass. But he did see it, and, kneeling
down in front of her chair, he put his two
hands on hers, and said, passionately:
'sRose, look at me! Here 1 am at your feet
again, asking you if you"
"Oh, my husbandl" cried Rose, while
a sweeping wave of coSor made her face
aglow with light; ''you could never love me
again."
81 have never stopped loving you, my
darling" rising to his feet and clasping her
close to his heart "Why, Rose; why. ny