The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1890-02-14

4hehlo uOuy 1uCACSO3 Vi lCu OllO OdDJ
voice, finishing up in emphatic American
English; 81 Doesn't Does 1, papa!"
"Well, little, my DEAR" answered
Jacob, smiling. "Run along to bed now,
hores good girl; so that papa can write
he letter, you know"
''All yight! Goodnight, my very own
papa 90 div 'em my love, and ask em to
um kick!n And the little fairy danced off
to bed. But Jacob did not write at once
after little Alice left him. He sat by the
grate-ire, dreaming ng-looking into the Goals,
and thinking of the past.
"Little Alice is rightr' he said to him
self, at length, "and l have been selfish
brute not to have thought of them before.
Poor father and motherl They must indeed
have thought me heartless. And so l AMI
have no love left to give any onel Oh!
Rose, Rosel Oil my wifel How could
you?"
Again the old pain-again the old ache.
at is hard to bury what is yet alive"
thought Jacob, whimsically.
He went to his desk, sat down and wrote
TO Uncle Aaron. Then, putting on his hat
md overcoat, went out and dropped the
letter into the nearest mail-box himself.
Ten days later the door-bell of No.
Fifth avenue was rung, and when the
darkey butler opened the door he sniclz-
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
If recent fashion plates.
''Bees Mr.. Jacob Lane at home" said
Uncle Aaron, smiling, while he wiped the
uerspiration off his forehead with a big
pictured handkerchief.
mo, sah," grinned Sam; The done gone
lown to de boat to meet his farder an mud
der, sah."
"Well, now, Aaron, told you that Jacob
would meet US, only yer wouldn't wait, but
had to walk me away up here, and Pm all
tuckered out" whined Aunt Kate.
"We'll 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 wlfe's clean
tired"
'Certainly, sah," said Sam, with the col
ored mans ready politencss; ''wa!k right
dis wayn Butto himself he was thinking:
Fore de Lord! am desc yere his folkss Hi!
Wonder what little Miss Alice will say!'
He ushered them into the reception room on
one side of the hall, and then politely said:
rs dar muffin l can get yer, san, or you,
ma'am2"
''Wcll, tell you what" said Aunt Kate,
I'D like q cup of tea right well. Eff it won't
bother any one, I'd like to go to the kitchen
and make ourselves a cup of tea-Id like
that"
Couldn't think, ma'am, of you so disturb
in yourself" said mischievous Sam, bowling
with the grace of q Chesterfield. "I'll speak
20 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-
ton at their beautiful surroundings. But
even their admiration was Characteristic
for Aunt Kate's was mixed with feeling
Of awe and half fear, while Uncle Aaron
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 a fine
water-color, smiling and looking happy,
when suddenly AIce daintlly dressed and
hugglng her beloved dolIle IN ner arms,
stood within the Turkish portieres that
lraped the doorway.
"Oo-o! she said,
"Land sakes ~ cried Aunt Kate.
"Why, this must be Alice!" said Uncle
Aaron.
With the swift recognition that children
have of those akin to them, little Alice
ropped her doll and without moments
hesitation went to Uncle Aaron's out
tretched hands He stood up in his great
leight and happiness, beautiful picture,
with the child in his arms. Aunt Kate
ooked at them as she ever looked tevery
thing, doubtfully.
'My wee woman my wee woman!" said
Uncle Aarcn, 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 stiff and straight, looking at them
10Th
''Beant yer agoin' to speak to me?" she
said at last, primly. "Tm your grand
mother"
'Is see2" questioned Alice, lifting up her
great blue eyes to Uncle Aaron.
Yes; in sartin, your grandmah Kiss
Ter, there's good child"
Thus directed, little Alice got down from
Jncle Aaron, smoothed down her pretty
iress, tossed her curls over her shoulder
md said: "How de doc, drandma?" and
,eld up her wee mouth for a kiss. Thank
sod that nature is at times too strong for
10. For once Aunt Kate forgot to carp
md whine. All her woman's heart went
'ut 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
o her broad, motherly breast, she held her
lose. And the child felt the mother love
nd was not afraid; only nestled the closer.
she kissed and crowed over her as mothers
o, and Alice, at last lifting up her tumoled,
urly head, said wisely:
100 tan go now, drandpa; 90 tan go to
| likeness wiv papa. Dood-bye."
Uncle Aaron stood, big, nonplussed,
swllward He was surprised, as many of
nis brother men have been before him, and
hose after him viii be again, at that illogical,
TRANCE treemasonry of woman-kind in the
rises of life, be they young or old, of high
low degree. Plainly he was not wanted
needed,
Fortunately a few moments after Jacob
eturned home, "very sorry that he had
Missed them at the boat" He was rather
urprlsed to see upon what intimate terms
\unt Kate and wee Alice We're, as that little
idy sat upon the old dame's lap, gravely
ntting her grandma's bIg gold earrings
round heP dollie's wrists as bracelets.
Uncle Aaron and Aunt Kate remained
nth Jacob about two weeks, and then I'm
le Aaron, with his gentle, wise under
auding of all things, thought IL best that
ry should go. He saw that although
cob was glad to have them, that the daily
utine of his life was altered, that his
ays were not their ways.
1t was their last evening at Jacobs house,
when weeAlice had taken grandma up to her
'wn room, and was happy with her in her
'retty, childish fashion, and Aunt Kate, soft