The Iola register., 1889-12-06

And then arter it % done, every one sees I,
is good, ye know. Now, about this ere
room, Jacob. Something's air right and
something's air wrong mean in the fixin's
lad; and hev noticed that the right things
are what was easy to do, and the other
things that were heap more trouble they
don't suit no one now they are donen
'Oh, fatherl fatherr said Jacob, rising
unexpectedly and pacing the floor; ''you
should have been in my place; you should
have had chanceI"
"Chance for what, Iadi Money! dc
not want it. Inever have-that is not what
1 have keered for"
"What do you care fort" said Jacob.
''Mei What do keer fort I don't know
how to tell We, lad. know don't keer for
money-for that only means so many loa6s
of hemlock bark taken to the 'tannin'
But 1t seems to me, lad, as il there must be
some other use for what's in us-some other
| use. I'm no scollard; can't say what ]
| feels, my boy, but when ! heered you the
other day in court, pleadin' for that poor
| woman, and saw the tears q runnin' down
the peoples cheeks, felt as if was a
| livin' then," and Uncle Aaron rose and put
his hand on Jacobs shoulder.
"You give me new courage, father" said
Jacob; "but it's hard to live on without her
my wife"
81 know, lad. Don't ever think forget
it. doesn't" There are some that help
US; even although they can not take our
burden from Us, they seem to share the
weight of it.
Jacob, strong man that he was, felt steal.
ing over him the same sense Of comfort
that he had felt as child in Uncle Aaron's
arms. He felt strengthened and uplifted,
better able to face the long, dreary outlook
oflonely days to come.
"Father," he said, at last, "you make me
feel like man again-like a soldier that
has heard the ringing cheer of his Captain
to charge the foe. And would indeed be
CO ward If fell back now."
"My lad" said Uncle Aaron, with his
tender, loving smile, "you never have been
coward-and you never will ber'
CHAPTER VI
There are few so stepped in wrong-doing
as to be comfortably stupefed Rose has
never quite forgotten for one short half
hour her deserted child and husband. Uncle
Aaron's beseeching words have come back
to her ears again and again, and she feels
strange, regretful pity whenever she
thinks of him.
Fifteen years have passed away since she
has seen him, and on this particular day as
she is walking through the town Of Ron
dout he is in her mind. She is with her
theatrical company, and whether it is owing
to the fact that she is so near to the mount
aims or not, she has been thinking of Uncle
Aaron all the morning. Suddenly a hand
is laid upon her shoulder, and voice says
huskily: "Beant this Rosel'
"Yes-why, it's youI" she exclaims, gaz-
ing at Uncle Aaron in surprise. He stands
there in the sunlight, his beard and hair
very white, his gray eyes flashing with ex,
citement, his breath coming fast. "Ah-
how do you dol' she says; ''are you wella"
ayes, thankee," stammers Uncle Aaron.
81 was just thinking Of you," goes on
Rose, coolly, looking very beautiful, with
the CLINT of the sun upon her yellow hair;
do you of ten come into towns I thought
you seldom left the Mountains"
81 coined down on Matthew's business.
He's my other son, yer know-has a farm
live with him sence mother died. How
do We know-how is Jacob?" said the old
man, eagerly.
"Jacob? do not know. I have not seen
him." slowly, "since last saw you"
The calmness of this statement rather
shakes the good old man for moment;
then, his eyes flashing more than ever, he
answers: $50 long as thatl Why, wee
Alice is nigh on to eighteen years old"
"Yes," assented Rose, calmly, "she must
be. Is she like met Is she pretty, do you
know!"
''Woman! woman !" broke.in Uncle Aaron,
shave We no heart at all? And you have
not seen her in all these yearsl Tell me,
have We never wanted to see her and yer
husband-my boy. Never wanted to sec
them all this timel"
"Not very much," she answers, smiling
slowly; ''but l have wanted to see you,
though. You don't believe thatl It's true
all the same. You have always been in my
thoughts. have felt SO sorry that what I
did hurt you, because you were so good"
throwing out her hands with pretty gest-
ure.
"Goodr' calculated Uncle Aaron, In
amazement; what do ye mean?"
81 mean." said Rose, turning around i'm
pulsively and facing him, "thas you arc
more of a saint than any one ! know, and
my memory of your talk to me is like that
of a church, and that If l had had you for
my father l might have been good
woman. There, that's what mean"
More amazed than ever Uncle Aaron
stood looking at her, his heart swelling with
emotion.
"Yes," went on Rose, land II I were with
you every day now, would be good wo-
man; It's true" she nodded; "you are bet
ter than all the priests to me-"
81 don't see why" he said.
"You don'ta No, suppose not" she ex-
Nlo NH a S1o,,< Ia
fact all the same. I know that If ! had TO
die this very minute, shouldn't be half so
afraid to go if you would stand by me and |
hold my handl"
Suddenly over Uncle Aaron's face came o |
strange light, and the blood rushed hotly up |
against his white hair. "Rose, have |
thought Of something. Will yer do it fer |
me, childl Will ye do itl"
'Not to go back to Jacob"
"But If I go with ye," said Uncle Aaron, |
rapidly. "Ye said, II ye was not making |
sport Of me, that if I were by ye every day |
ye could be a good woman. Rosel Rosei |
come back to Jacob, and I'll come with |
We! Come back to my boy. Come, Pllcome
with ye. Think OF the years that he has |
loved ye and been left alone. Think Of yel |
child-will yer come, Rosep
For a moment she seemed to waver, then |
shaking her head she said, rather wearily:
'No, it would be Of no use. couldn't now.
1t is too late. He can not want-I should not |
suit him-he could not forgive, and besides
oh, I couldn't! 1t is impossible"
There are times when the yearning of an
intense love has the force Of q whirIwind.
Such was Uncle Aaron's great soul now.
He saw the future joy both Of his boy and
Of this fair woman before him hanging in
the balance, and he felt that he must /
save her. His eyes burned, his face was
flushed, he walked erect like o king, and