Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-12-26
CHAPTER VIII.


Just how Jacob and Rose got Uncle Aaron
home-just howJacob explained the home
coming of the new mistress and long absent
mother to his household and to Alice, he
could not have told if he had been asked a
month later.
And as for Rose, for days the only real
thing in the world to her was a pictured
memory of few strange faces in q beau
tiful room, and a minister in white robes
saying: 81 am the resurrection and the
ife,' and lying in calm and peaceful grand
eur the form of Uncle Aaron. Always, al
ways she saw only him, and on his face that
glad and triumphant smile of exultant love
In the confused days that followed she
spoke and eat and slept, but did SO as one
in q dream or as one with a vail over the
face shrouded.
There came at last q day when the dream
was ended, and she awoke, when the vail
was torn aside, and her eyes beheld. She
was sitting in the front bed room Of her
home, around her the many beautiful things
that money and culture brings, when sud-
denly she saw, as for the first time, her
daughter Alice. A fair-haired girl, with
her own features, but more lovely because
of q curious likeness to Uncle Aaron in the
pink and white face. She dropped the book
she held in her hands and gazed at her
child. Her childi Was this lovely girl
hersf And the years that had passed to
bring her to this state of loveliness-what
did she know of them2 What part had she
in her child's life, in her girlish hopes and
fears2 And now, here she was, sweet and
gentle, just trembling on the edge Of
womanhood = and what was she ike3
s'What do know of her2 Is she my child7'
unused Rose. A strong, jealous feeling Of
true motherhood swept over her. s'She is
minei And who are these people that have
had the care of her till nowa"
She half arose in her seat, and Alice, turn
ing around, said, gently: ssIs-is there any
thing you want, mother?"
How the word thrilled heri Going to
Alice, she put her arms about h.,r and said.
quickly: TELL me of yourself, dear-tell
me OF yourself all you can rememberW
Surprised and startled to see the strange
and handsome lady whom she had been told
was her mother, but for whom until now
she had felt only q deep curiosity, Alice
answered abruptly: sSTen you of myselfI
What a strange thing to ask, mother.''
Eyes, yes" answered Rose, with sob,
sit is strangei I know thati Unnatural
and wrong that need to ask at all-that
do not know all about you from your first
pair Of shoes up to now. But don't: and
ohiI never. never can Notwithstanding
down and sobbing convulsively-"In never
can knowi Oh, my babyi Oh, my little
girliel Oh, my Alicel Minel minei minep'
kissing the startled girl on cheeks and lips
and hair, hungrily stroking even her dress;
'syou are minei"
'SThere, there, mother" said Alice, trem-
blingly, the tears in her eyes; lido not cry.
win tell you all can. ! will, mother
dear"
But alasi the best that tender kindness
can do can not bring back the pasti As
Alice went on, gently relating bit by bit
parts OF her innocent life the mother
Rroaned aloud. She might know the facts,
yes, down to the smallest detail, but that did
not help her hunger, did not relieve the
gnawing remorse that she felt, nor hill the
jealous sense at her heart. that there would
always be q part Of her child's life In which
she had no share. StiIl, this breaking down
Of tho barriers brought them nearer to-
gether. Alice felt warm glow Of feeling
towards her mother that was the first be-
ginning of an earnest love.
That night Rose saw her husband Jacob
with new eyes. Strong and grave and
tender, the man that now she felt she had
trusted In blindly through all her folly and
wickedness, he was there, staunch and true,
her husband stint A sense Of awe, Of
reYeEence came over her. - Of one apared