Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-11-21

know. But no one has jess what they'd
like to have in this world, and there is your
child. you know. I can't say it as it ought
to be said, I'm no scollard; but know that
il We leave yer husband, who loves ye, and
yer child that needs yer love, that by and
by yen be sorry. So sorry, that all the
gist of this" sweeping his hands around,
twill be taken out of it. Just thinki Come
back with me, child. Ja-Jacob loves ye.
If ye had only seen him tonight" Here
he broke down and had to stop.
The mention of her husbands name some
how seemed TO harden Rose. ''You ask
impossibilities, sirl l am not made for
domestic dullness. / care nothing for my
husband and my childl Oh, well, she is 50
young she'll never miss me. There's a
great deal of romantic nonsense in the
world, sir, and /, for one, am not going to
sacrifice my life for any sentimental fool
cry. Now do you understand met 1t is no
use your talking, intend to live my own
life in my own way"
'tBut, childi" cried Uncle Aaron, ex-
citedly, sis it nothing that my boy breaks
his heartl Is it nothing that yer child
grows up without yer! Yer haven't
thought ahead, surely. Come back, child !
I'll make Jacob be good to ye-ye shall
have gay life-ye shall come with me, !"
said the old man, grasplng her hand in
botu Of his; 'come, and he shall DO more
for ye than ever man did to make ye
happyr'
For answer-such nging, merry peal of
laughter that UncleAaron dropped her hands
and started back, staring. "Ha! ha! ha!
hal You come from the mountains, don't
youl Excuse my laughing, but it strikes
me so absurd, to think that II, who have
hundreds nightly at my feet, that could be
happy with him. Ha! ha ha! ha! No, sir;
1 tell you no! Once and fer all, no! DO
you understand? Let me pass, please. /
have already given you considerable of my
time, and, as told you, have an engage
ment for this evening""
Catching gracefully with one hand her
long, sweeping train of pale-blue silk, with
the other she motioned Uncle Aaron from
the door. Mechanically he moved aside.
She passed through the door and out. He
stood alone, dumb with pain and despair.
One suffers twofold when one suffers for
another. His whole heart was wrung. He
had no thought save that she would not go
back to his boy, and his boy loved her. The
intensity of his sorrow drowned his sense
of her wickedness. All he knew was that
she would not go back. He stood there
like man in dream, taking no account of
time or place. Fifteen minutes later one of
the employees of the theater, coming in to
turn off the gas, saw him. you'll have to
get out,' he said, civilly.
''She won't come back, - said Uncle Aaron.
"Heyl' SAID the man. ''Old fellow is a lit
tie light in the upper story, guess" he
mumbled to himself ''You must get outof
ho,. civ &c 10 I
again.
Il ask yer parding," said Uncle Aaron,
suddenly realizing where he was. 81 was
thinkin'. Goodnight to ye, sir" 'Good-
night" said the man, commencing to turn
off the gas.
Uncle Aaron soon found himself in the
street, and finally he reached Jacobs home.
As he came in Jacob sprang toward him
eagerly. The old man threw up his hands
with despairing gesture and shook his
head.
81 knew tr' cried Jacob; but the anguish
in his cry showed that he yet had hoped.
Throwing himself down on the sofa, he
buried his face in his hands. Then getting
up again, and pacing up and down the room,
he spoke RAPIDLY: "You see, father, she
was left so much alone. had been so busy
French, you know, and the love of excite
ment was in her, suppose; but I never
dreamed" he groaned, 'that she would de-
celve me. Coming home one night found
she was out L traced her to the theater
and found her on the stage! Think of it
1t seems that she had once or twice before
supplied one Of the actresses place when
i'll, and l had never dreamed of such a
thing. thought her at those times to be
with her aunt, who was very low-she said
She has no heart-she never hadl To leave
our child-curse her!-I will forget her
Oh!-I will will willr' he cried, pas
sionately, clenching his hands and striding
up and down.
Seeing his father had not moved nor an
swered him, he strobe over to where he sat
The old man raised his eyes. In them was
such world of yearning love and sympa-
thy that Jacob, giving a cry like a tired
child, flung himself down on the floor and
buried his head upon the old mans knees.
LTo DE CONTINUED