Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-12-12
UNCLE AARON f:
A WIFE REDEEMED.
A Pathetic Story Of a Woman's
Folly and a Mans Heroism.
BY MRS. ISOBEL III. FLOYD.
(Copyright, 1891


(Copyright, 1891
CHAPTER III.
Eight years later, one day at the end of
summer, Jacob, then a strong young fellow
Of eighteen, announced his intention of 60
ing to New York.
''What for can't We bide as Matthew!''
asked his mother, ENORMOUSLY. ssNew
York; What will yer do there? Why can't
yer let well enough alone! You're better
off now than yer father was when we mar
ried. Yer have hundred dollars in the
bank and schoolin why can't yer bides''
The young fellow laughed awkwardly,
and said, looking at his father, although he
talked to his mother: ''I-have an idea
could do better for myself in big city.
think / could-I feel could.'
sFeelI" calculated his mother, with con-
emptuous Shrug.
ssLet be, mother" interrupted Uncle
Aaron. sternly; ''don't make game o. the
lad. He's old enough to have his bent, and
am going to give it to him.
That was all that was needed. The boy
wanted but his fathers sympathy and the
woman but firm hand to Que1 her rebel
lion.
s'Well-if yer say it" she said.
eyes, say it, said Uncle Aaron. rising
in his agitation and pacing the room; 81 say
It, The lads been a good lad, and has a
| come back in couple of years, glad to 20 a
| farmings What harms been done, I says
| What harm?''
''Oh, thank you, father,'' said Jacob,
huskily; "rm obliged to you"
ssWil yer be a-going soon!'' said Aunt
| Kate, presently, accepting the inevitable
| with feminine quickneSS; '''cauSe yer'H
| need some more socks, I'm thinking
eyes, mother" said Uncle Aaron, smil-
| ing, as one humors child; ''yes, he'll need
! the soczs.''
''rll go and see if the yarn be there" said
| Aunt Kate, suddenly all wide-awake and
energetic; ''if he goes soon they're not
! MAIDEN day." and she jumped up from her
seat, climbed the ladder and disappeared in
| the loft above.
ssLet's go outside" said Uncle Aaron
| They went out and stood side by side under
| the big pine trees.
''Father.'' said Jacob at last, eff you had
rather didn't, I won't. It wouldn't be
worth while. you know, to worry you" Ali
| the sweet smile that came over his face.
"Dear lad, I would not keep We. Col
Ye're young and smart, and I know
| yen do WE'LL know yell do we'll
Why, some of these days it'll be an
honor for me to say yer my lad-and, per-
haps, yell be ashamed of yer poor old father
| and mother"
| "What!' cried the boy, and such a look
| of indignant love glowed in his face that
his father added, hastily: ssI'm but joking,
lad. I know my boy,' and reaching out his
hand he clasped the others close.
"Father, wish you could go with me.''
! eyes, yes,' said Uncle Aaron, dreamiiy.
| 81 wish had been born twenty years later
| and different. Sometimes, do yer know,
| lad, I see another sort Of life from this.
| feel as if-as Tiff I'd had but the schoolin'
| it would have been different. Do yer I'M
| derstand!'' he SAID, modestly; 81 sound
| queer to ye, mebbea'
| 'No,'' said Jacob, earnestly; .'you don't
| Oh, fatherl father! What puzzle life is,
anyhow and the young fellow buried his
face in his hands, and with the seIfishness
| of the young groaned aloud. The greater
soul merely stihed it's pain and said:
''When will We go, think yea'
| 81 don't know; next week, guess" said
Jacob, looking up. sWIll that be too soonr'
! ssNo" answered Uncle Aaron, ssnot too
| soon-not too SOON"
''Some way, father, can't bear to think
| of settling down here all my life. 1t just
| chokes me.''
ssDon't fret, lad; don't fret. understand
| yer feelin's, and it makes no differ what
| the others say--it makes no differ.''
| 81 guess" said Jacob, at last, after they
had stood silent some moments, 81 guess
| I'll chop pile of wood before go, 70 keep
| mother agoin'."
Gall right" nodded his father.
| The boy went about his work, but the
| man stood still looking out over the valley.
| In dumb way he felt penned in, stif1ed,
| himself. He had felt so often during his
| later years, something as of repressed force,
| imprisoned power. He was like a grand
| lion Gagged, restlessly pacing to and fro.
| stronger than his keepers, and yet unable
to break the bars by which they bound him.
| Those slight and unseen keepers of educa-
| ton and worldly knowledgel With them
| he could have done wonders in the world
| he felt it. Without them he was but big
| wistful-eyed brute, that eat it's food and
| eat and slept again.
| But the boy-that was his one outlet.
| Gently he turned, and, smiling, STROBE back
| towards the house.
| CHAPTER ".
Ten years later. 1t is evening. Jacob is
| sitting with his head bowed in his hands
alone in his home in Charles street, New
York Suddenly knock comes at the door.
| He springs to open it.
ssFatherI knew you'd comet knew
| you'd come Oh, father, father, fatheri''
sobbed out the strong young fellow, broken
'sMy boy-my boy, I coined as soon as
| gotyour letter. Has-hasn't she come back!'
"Back!n flashed Jacob, ssnoi wouldn't
mind SO much if it wasn't for our little
/ Alice. She's left her, father-our little
ch1ldi Ohp' groaned the young fellow,
| pacing the room in his agony, ooh, that I
never had seen herl Oh, that
:'Stop, Jacobl Don't say that. Sheis your
| wife, and your child's mother, and alters that
Is something to remember. Tell me, - he said,
] laying down his old-fashioned carpet sack
| on chair, and taking on his hat, tell me-
how long sence she left JET" -...