The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1890-02-21
CHAPTER VIII.

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 to mind in your own men,
ory the 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 the actions.
Just how Jacob and Rose got Uncle Aaron
home-just how Jacob 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 pictured
memory of a few strange faces in beau
tiful room, and 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 exu.tant love 1!
In the confused days that followed she
spoke and eat and slept, but did so as one
in a dream or as one with vail over the
face shrouded
There came at last 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 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 child! Was this lovely girl
herss And the years that had passed to
bring her to this state of loveliness-what
did she know of thems What part had she
in her child's life, in her girlish hopes and
fears? And now, here she was, sweet and
gentle, just tren bling on the edge of
Womanhood - and what was she like?
What do know of her? Is she my child?'
unused Rose. A strong, Jeaicus feeling of
true motherhood swept over her. s'Sne is
mlne! And who are these people that have
had the care of her till nova"
Sne half arose in her seat, and Alice, turn
ing around, said, gently: "ls-is there any
thing you want, mother?'
How the 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 rememberr'
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 myselfs
What strange thing tc ask, mother"
'Yes, yes" answered Rose, with sob,
''lt Is strange! l Know that! Unnatural
and wrong that need to ask at all-tnat
do not know all about you from your first
pair OF shoes up to now. But l don't; and
oh! never, never can knowr'- breaking
down and soboing convulslvely-'I never
can know! Oh, my BABY! Oh, my little
grille! Oh, my Alicel Nine! nine! mine!'
kissing the startled girl on cheeks and lips
and hair, hungrily stroklng even her dress;
''you are mlner
There, there, mother" said Alice, trem-
blingly, the tears in her eyes; 'do not cry.
will tell you all l can. l Will, mother
dear"
But alas the best that tender kindness
can do can not bring back the past! AS
Alice went on, gertly relating bit by bit
parts of her innocent life the mother
groaned 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 kill the
at her heart, that there would
always be part of her chi'd's life in which
she had no share. Still, 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
In blindly through all her folly and
WlcAeuhess, he was there, staunch and true,
her husband stlll! A sense of awe, of
reverence came over her, as of one spared
beyond her deserts. 81 never can atone to