The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1890-04-24

Just how one passes through the Crisis OF
life, what one has said or done on such occa-
sions, can not always be accurately record
ed. Call back 10 mind In your own men,
ory tho most important and vital interests
in your life and you will marvel at the few
ness Of the words said and the common
placeness Of tho uctions.
Just how Jacob aud Rose got Uncle Aaron
home-just how Jacob explained the home.
coming Of tho new mistress and long absent
mother to his household and to Alice, he
could not have told If he had been asked o
month later.
And rs for Eose, for days the only real
thing In the world to her was pictured
memory Of few strange faces In beau.
tiful room, and Q minister In white robes
saying: II am the resurrection and the
life," 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 lovei
In tho confused days that followed she
spoke and eat and slept, but did so as one
in o dream or as one wi b 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 bcheld. 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 moro lovely because
of u curious like ness to Uncle Aaron in tho
pink and white face. Shc dropped the book
she held In her hands and gazed at her
child. Her child! Was this lovely girl
hersl And tho years that had passed TO
bring her to this state Of loveliuess-what
did she know of theml What part had she
in her child's life, in her girlish hopes and
fearsl And now, here she was, sweet and
gentle, just trembling on the edge Of
womanhocd - and what was she likel
what do know Of her? Is she my child"
mused Rose A strong, Jealous feeling Of
true motherhood swept over her, 'She Is
mine! And who are these people that have
had tho care of her till now!"
She half arose in her seat, and Alice, turn
ing around, said, gently: "Is-is there any
thing you want, motherl'
How tho word thrilled herl Going to
Alice, she put her arms about her and said.
quickly: "Tell me Of yourself, dear-tell
me of yourself-all you can rememberm
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 deep curiosity, Alice
answered abruptly: ''Tell you Of myselfi
What strange thing to ask, mother"
Eyes, yes," answered Rose, with sob,
''it Is strange! / know that! Unnatural
and wrong that need to ask at all--that !
do not know all about you from your Arst
pair Of shoes up to now. But don't; and
oh /! never, never can notwithstanding
down and sob5ing convulsively-"I never
can know! Oh, my baby! Oh, my little
grille Oh, my Alicci Nine! minel minel"
kissing the startled girl on cheeks and lips
and hair, hungrily stroking even her dress;
''you arc minel"
"There, there, mother" SAID Alice, trem.
blingly, the tears in her eyes; "do not cry.
I will tell you all can. / will, mother
dear"
But alas tho best that tender kindness
can do can not bring back the past! AS
Alice went on, gently relating bit by bit
parts of her innocent life the mother
groaned aloud. She night 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 kill the
jealous sense at her heart, that there would
always be part of her child's life in which
she had no share. Sti!l, this breaking down
of the 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, s,aunch and true,
her husband still A sense of awe, of
reverence came over her, as of one spared
beyond her deserts. ~ never can atone to