Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1890-02-06


"TELL ME OF YOURSELF, DEAR"
she held in her hands and gazed at her
child. Her child Was this lovely girl
hersl 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
fearsl And now, here she was, sweet and
gentle, just trembling on the edge OF
womanhood = and what was she hkes
'.what do know Of heri Is she my childip
unused Rose. A strong, jealous feeling OF
true motherhood swept over her. 'She IS
minel And who are these people that have
had the care of her till nowfN
She half arose in her seat, and Alice, turn
ing around, said, gently: isis there any
thing you want. motherh
How the word thrilled her Going to
Alice, she put her arms about her and said.
quickly: ''Tell me of yourself, dear-tell
me of yourself-all you can rememberW
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 a strange thing to ask, mother"
Eyes, yes,n answered Rose, with sob,
sit is strangel / know that Unnatural
and wrong that need to ask at all--that
do not know all abont you from your first
pair Of shoes up 10 now. But / don't; and
oh never, never can notwithstanding
down and sobbing convulsively-'I never
can knowl Oh, my baby Oh, my little
girlie oh, my Alicel Minel mine mineP'
kissing the startled girl on cheeks and lips
and hair, hungrily stroldng even her dress;
''you are mineW
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 alasl the best that tender kindness
can do can not bring back the pastl As
Alice went on, gently 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
| Jealous sense at her heart, that there would
always be part of her child'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
trusted in blindly through all her folly and
wickedness, he was there, staunch and true,
her husband still A sense of awe, of
reverence came over her, as Of one spared
beyond her deserts. 81 never can atone to
him. she cried In her heart; "but'a at least
/ will try"
Humbly and gently, earnestly and un-
| tiringly, she strove from day to day to full
fill her duties as q wife, to minister TO his
comfort and happiness in every way. In
so doing she grew more and more to love
the generous nature that never spoke a
word Of recrimination, and that always
showed appreciation of her smallest effort.
She grew to love her husband with hun
cry and despairing love-for she saw no
hope ahead. Although always gentle and
kind, there was ever gentle reserve and
reticence that seemed to say: "Thus far
shalt thou come, and no farther"
And she could not blame himl She dared
not. He was now giving her far beyond
what she had any right to expect
One evening, some months after Uncle
Aaron's death, Rose and Jacob were to-
gether in the library = Jacobs favorite
room. Rose, always beautiful, dressed in a
dress Of some soft and clinging silk, sat,
dreamily looking of into space, thinking Of
herself, Of Jacob and Of Uncle Aaron.
1t was one of her quiet times when she
did not fret inwardly-only felt glad and
thankful that ecould be near him, humble
and devoted.
And Jacobl So true it is that love is
blind Why, he had always loved his wife,
and only her; but now that she had come
back TO him, penitent and, OIL 50 gentle, he
could ask nothing Of her, he could exact
nothing from her. That she loved him he
never dreamed, and in his manly generosity
he would not demand any thing. All her
ceaseless care and vigilant watching for his
tastes and wishes he took to be but peni-
tent gratitude, and not for one instant could
he have taken advantage Of that. Therefore
he was reserved; therefore he was reticent
He feared to be otherwise, for still in his
heart, unchanged BY time or trial. was the
one strong love Of his life. He felt that ii
he let 90 the leash he could not trust him
self.
He looked at her beautiful profile as she
sat there, graceful aud womanly, uncon-
scious Of his gaze, and he thought: show
l love her. How every tiny move Of her
sweet mouth love. How long to touch
the silvery gold Of her hair" And then
man-like, he said and did the exact opposite
Of what he felt ibid you go to Goupi's to
dayl" be said
] awhstl GOupil'sln said RoAe. "ck. res