Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1889-12-05
VI.

CHAPTER VI
There are few so STEPPED in wrong-doing
as to be comfortably stupehed. Rose has
never quite forgotten for one short half
hour her deserted child ana husband Uncle
Aaron's beseeching words have come back
to her ears again and again, and she feels
a strange, regretful pity whenever she
thinks of him.
Fifteen years have passed away since she
has seen him, and on tins 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 hand
is laid upon her shoulder ard a voice says
huskily: "Beant this Rosel"
"Yes-why, it's you'll" she exclams, 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 dos" she says; ''are you wellf'
Eyes, 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
II 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?n said the old
man, eagerly.
'Jacob? | do not know. 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 DID,
"Yes,' assented Rose, calmly, "she must
be. Is she like mei Is she pretty, do you
known'
woman woman !" broke in Uncle Aaron,
shave We no heart at all? And you have
not seen her in all these yearss Tell me
have We never wanted to see her and yei
husband my boyi Never wanted to see
them all this time!~
"Not very much, she answers, smiling
slowly; ''but | have wanted to see you,
though. You don't believe that's It's true
all the same. You have always been in my
thoughts. | have felt so sorry thai what ]
did hurt you. bee use you were 50 good"
throwing out her hands with a pretty gest-
ure
"Good" calculated Uncle Aaron, ia
amazement; what do We lnean?"
II mean, y said Rose, turning around inn
pulsively and facing him, that YOU are
more of a 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, "and if were with
you every day now, would be a 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'ts No, suppose not" she ex-
claimed, laughing away a tear; "but it's a
fact all the same. know that if had to
die this very minute | shouldn't be half so
afraid to 90 if you would stand by me and
hold my handn'
Suddenly over Uncle Aaron's face came
strange light, and the blood rushed holly up
against his white hair. Rose, Il have
thought Of something. win yer do it fer
me, child! Will We do itl'
Not to go back to Jacob"
"But If 90 with We, said Uncle Aaron,
rapidly. Eye said if We was not making
sport of me, that if were by We every day
ye could be a good woman. Rosel Rosei
coQe back to Jacob, and I'll come with
We, Come back tony boy. Come, Illcome
with We. Think OF the years that he has
loved We and been left alona. Think of yer
child-will yer come, Rose"
For moment she seemed to waver, then
shaking her head she said, rather YEARLY:
kkNy - 4 ~ I
It is too late He can not want should not
suit him he could not forgive. and besides
OF, | couldn't! It is impossible
There are times when the yearning Of an
intense love has the force Of whiriwind
Such was Uncle Aarons great soul now
de saw the future JOY both of his boy and
4 this fair woman before him hanging in
be balance, aud he felt that he must
save her His eyes burned, his face was
lushed. he walked erect like king, and
ike king he commanded:
Come. want to talk with ye.n
Looking up at him in wonder, for across
his face shonc quiverlng light Of strange
sweetness, Rose stopped, hesitated mo
ment and then turned and walked by his
side He strobe along down one OF the side
streets and out 10 the edge Of tue town until
they came 10 c.umpof trees near a stream.
Lets sit down here he said Both
we're silent for moment, Rose nervously
punching holes in the soft green moss with
the end Of her lace parasol, while I'm
Gle Aaron. laying his hat upon the ground,
ran his fingIrs excitedly through his long
white hair
Its a queer world. child, and | don't
pretend 10 understand IL; but there Is
one thing that 10 know aud I want We to
know IT. The only happiness for ourselves
IS what we give 10 others. When | was
younger | didn't know this, and many a
time | cried out AZ things aud hated folks
was always hungry for what 1 never got,
all ms life tail isfe wears, and used TO feel
as If no ones heart was quite so empty as
mine, and 10 otes life quite sO-spailed-
But, child, here lis voice grew deeper
- have found out that sli hearts are hun.