Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-11-28
CHAPTER VI

There are few so STEPPED in wrong-doing
as to be comfortably stupeied 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
a strange, regrettul 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 Rom
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
islaid upon her shoulder, and a voice says
huskily: "Beant this Reset"
"Yes-why, it's youp 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,
element, his breath coming fast. "Ah-
how do you do?' she says; ''are you welll"
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 often come into town! / thought
you seldom left the mountains"
Il 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? l do not know. have not seen
him." slowly, ''since last saw you"
The calmness of this statement rather
shakes the good old man for a moment;
then, his eyes flashing more than ever, he
answers: 80 long as thatl Why, wee
Alice is nigh on to eighteen years old"
"Yes," assented Rose, calmly, "she must
be. Is she like mel Is she pretty, do you
know!n
Woman woman ~ broken Uncle Aaron,
shave We no heart at all? And you have
not seen her in all these years2 Tell me,
have We never wanted to see her and yer
husband-my boyl Never wanted to see
them all this time2"
''Not very much" she answers, smiling
slowly; ''but 1 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 /
did hurt you, because you were so good"
throwing out her hands with pretty gest-
ure.
"Goodw calculated Uncle Aaron, In
amazement; what do ye mean?"
~ mean" said Rose, turning around i'm
pulsively and facing him, "that you are
more of saint than any one know, and
my memory of your talk to me is like that
of church, and that if l had had you for
my father l might have been a 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, sand If / 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'tl No, suppose not" she ex-
laughing away tear; "but it's
fact all the same. l know that if l had to
die this very minute, shouldn't be half so
afraid to go if you would stand by me and
hold my hand!"
Suddenly over Uncle Aaron's face came a
strange light, and the blood rushed hotly IN
against his white hair. Rose, have
thought of something. VIII yer do it fer
me, childl Will We do itl'
''Not to go back to Jacob"
"But if l go with ye," said Uncle Aaron,
rapidly. 'Ye said, If re was not making
sport Of me, that if were by ye every day
We could be a good woman. Rosel RoseI
come back TO Jacob, and I'll come with
gel Come back to my boy. Come, I'll come
with ye. Think OF the years that he has
loved ye and been left alone. Think Of yer
child-win yer come, Rosel'
For moment she seemed to waver, then !
shaking her head she said, rather YEARLY: |
mo, it would be Of no use. couldn't now. |
It is too late. He can not want should not |
suit hin-he could not forgive, and besides |
oh, couldn't! II is impossible"
There are times when the yearning Of an |
intense love has the force of q vhirlwiDd. |
Such was Uncle Aaron's great soul now. |
lie saw the future Joy both of his boy and /
# this fair woman before him hanging in |
he balance, and he felt that he must
ave her. His eyes burned, his face was
lushed, he walked erect like a king, and
ike king he commanded:
"Come, want to talk with ye."
Looking up at him in wonder, for across
lis face shone quiverIng light Of strange
weetness, Rose stopped, hesitated a mo-
nent and then turned and walked by his
ide. He strobe along down one Of the side
treets and out to the edge Of the town until |
hey came to clumpof trees near stream.
"Iet's sit down here" he said. Both
7ere silent for moment, Rose nervously
unching holes in the soft green moss with
he end Of her IaSe parasol, while I'm
lie Aaron, laying his hat upon the ground,
an his fingers excitedly through his long
Thite hair.
SITS queer world, child, and 1 don't
retend to understand it; but there Is
ne thing that do know, and I want ye to
now it. The only happiness for ourselves
what we give to others. When 1 was
ounger l didn't know this, and many a
me cried out at things and hated folks.
was always hungry for what 1 never got,
Il my life, till late years, andI used to feel
S If no ones heart was quite so empty as
line, and no ones life quite so-spoiled.
ut, child, There his voice grew deeper