Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1890-01-30

tum kickr' And the little fairy danced of
to bed. But Jacob did not write at ono,
after little Alice left him. He sat by the
grate-fire, dreaming-looking into the Goals
and thinking OF the past.
"Little Alice is rightr' he said TO him
self, at length, "and have been a selfish
brute not to have thought of them before
Poor father and motherl They must indeed
have thought me heartless. And so / am
have no love left to give any onei Oh
Rose, Rosel Obi my wifel How could
you1"
Again the old pain-again the old ache
at is hard TO bury what is yet alive
thought Jacob, whimsically.
He went 10 his desk, sat down and wrote
to Uncle Aaron. Then, putting on his hat
and overcoat, went out and dropped the
letter into the nearest mail himself.
Ten days later the door-bell Of No. -
Fifth avenue was rung, and when the
darkey butler opened the door he snick-
cred; for there, standing before him, were
Uncle Aaron and Aunt Kate, In all the
glory Of their best clothes, looking like
caricatures Of themselves and burlesques
Of recent fashion plates.
"Bees Mr.. Jacob Lane at homei" said
Uncle Aaron, smiling, while he wiped the
Precipitation of his forehead with big
pictured handkerchief
"No, sah,n grinEed Sam; The done gone
down to de boat to meet his farder an mud
| der, sah.n
"Well, now, Aaron, I told you that Jacob
would meet us, only yer wouldn't wait, but
had to walk me away up here, and I'm all
tuckessd out,n whined Aunt Kate.
"Wenl come in, young man, and rest,
reckon" said Uncle Aaron. "You see the
city streets are hard on the feet when you
hain't used to 'em, and my wife's clean
tired"
"Certainly, sah," said Sam, with the col
ored mans ready politeness; ''walk right
dis way" But to himself he was thinking:
''Fore de Lord am desc yere his folksl Hi |
Wonder what little Miss Alice will sayli
He ushered them into the reception-room on
one side Of the hall, and then politely said
''Is dar muffin can get yer, sab, or you,
ma'aml"
"Well, tell you what" said Aunt Kate,
"rd like cup of tea right well. Eff ii won't
bother any one, I'd like to go 10 the kitchen
and make ourselves cup Of tea--Td like
thati'
couldn't think, ma'am, Of you so disturb
in yourself" said mischievous Sam, bowling
with the grace of a Chesterfield. "rll speak
TO de cook and bring it TO you right byar,
directly" And before Aunt Kate could
stop him or demonstrate with him, he was
out the door and gone.
Left to themselves, Uncle Aaron and
Aunt Kate looked around them in admira-
tion at their beautiful surroundings. But
even their admiration was Characteristic
for Aunt Kate's was mixed with feeling
a I'LL Ill. Il.
nodded his head with satisfied smile, as
if he met after long absence old friends
whom he was glad TO see. Aunt Kate was
down on her knees and was feeling the
thickness of the Administer carpet, and
Uncle Aaron was standing before fine
water-color, smiling and looking happy,
when suddenly Alice, daintily dressed and
hugging her beloved dollie in her arms,
stood within the Turkish portieres that
draped the doorway.
"Oo-ol' she said.
"Land sakes ~ cried Aunt Kate.
"Why, this must be Alicem said Uncle
Aaron.
With the swift recognition that children |
have of those akin TO them, little Alice |
dropped her doll and without moments |
hesitation went to Uncle Aaron's out |
stretched hands. Hs stood up in bis great |
height and happiness, beautiful picture, |
with the child in his arms. Aunt Kate /
looked at them as she ever looked at every |
thing, doubtfully.
'My wee woman my wee womanp' said |
Uncle Aaron, talking to her as lovers do. /
And for answer Alice kissed him emphat-
cally several times, pulling her tiny fingers
through his long gray beard. Aunt Kate
stood stir and straight, looking at them
both.
''Beant yer agoin' to speak to mein she
said at last, primly. 'Tm your grand
mother"
SIS sect" questioned Alice, lifting up her
great blue eyes to Uncle Aaron.
"Yes; In sartin, your grandmah. Kiss
her, there's a good child"
Thus directed, little Alice got down from
Uncle Aaron, smoothed down her pretty
lress, tossed her ourls over her shoulder
md said: "How de doc, drandmaq and
leld up her wee mouth for kiss. Thank
God that nature is at times too strong for
IS. For once Aunt Kats forgot to carp
Ind whine. All her woman's heart went
nut to the wee mouth held up to hers. 'My
,abyl" she cried, and then gatheringup the
my form with all its pretty lace and frills
% her broad, motherly breast, she held her
lose. ana inc Cnllu Ielb bn6 mOLner love
md was not afraid; only nestled the closer.
She kissed and crowed over her as mothers
10, and Alice, at last lifting up her tumbled,
,urly bead, said wisely:
100 tan go now, drandpa; 90 tan go to
likeness wiz papa. Dood-bye."
Uncle Aaron stood, big, nonplussed,
He was surprised, as many Of
lis brother men have been before him, and
hose after him will be again, at that illogical,
TRANCE treemasonry of woman-kind in the
rises of life, be they young or old, of high /.
r low degree. Plainly he was not wanted
r needed.
Fortunately few moments after Jacob
eturned home, ''very sorry that he had
missed them at the boat" He was rather ,
to see upon what intimate terms
hunt Kate and wee Alice were, as that little | /,
ady sat upon the old dame's lap, gravely
utting her grandma's big gold earrings
round her dollie's wrists as bracelets.
Uncle Aaron and Aunt Kate remaned )
With Jacob about two weeks, and then I'm
lie Aaron, with his gentle, wise under
landing Of all things, thought it best that r
hey should go. He saw that although ..
acoh rxyaa Glad n bax-a thew, &Io@ A. l