The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1890-02-14
RISING SUN, CECIL COUNTY. MD, FRIDAY FL

another. His whole heart was wrung. He
had no thought save that she would not &c
back to his boy, and his boy loved her The
intensity OF his sorrow drowned his sense
of her wickedness. All he knew was that
she would not go back. He stood there
like man in a dream, taking no account of
time or place. Fifteen minutes later one OF
the employees of the theater coming in tc
turn off the gas, saw him. "You'n have to
get OUT" he said, civilly.
''She won't come back said Uncle Aaron.
"Heyl" SAID the man. ''Old fellow is lit
tie light in the upper story, l guess" he
mumbled to himself. ''You must get out OF
here, sir; we're going to shut up,'' he said
again
II ask yer parding," said Uncle Aaron,
suddenly realizing where he was. II was Il
thinkin'. Goodnight to ye, sir" "Good
night" said the man, commencing to turn
off the gas.
Uncle Aaron soon found himself in the
street, and finally he reached Jacobs home
As he came in Jacob sprang toward him
eagerly. The old man threw up his hands
with despairing gesture and shook his
head.
Il knew itr' cried Jacob; but the anguish
in his cry showed that he yet had hoped
Throwing himself down on the sofa, he
buried his face in his hands. Then gettinc
up again, and pacing up and down the room
he spoke rapidly: ''You see, father, she
was left so much alone. l had been so busy
with my law cases. Her mother was
French, you know. and the love of excite
ment was in her, suppose; but I never
dreamed" he groaned, ''that she would de
celve me. Coming home one night founG
she was out. l traced her to the theatel
and found her on the stage! Think of it
1t seems that she had once or twice before
supplied one of the actresses place when
ill, and l had never dreamed of such q
thing. l thought her at those times to be
with her aunt, who was very loW-she said
She has no heart-she never had To leave
our child-curse her!-I will forget her
Oh!-I will will will!' he cried, pas
sionately, clenching his hands and striding
up and down.
Seeing his father had not moved nor an
swered him, he strode over to where he sat.
The old man raised his eyes. In them wa
such world of yearning love and sympa
thy that Jacob, giving a cry like a tire
child, flung himself down on the floor anC
buried his head upon the old mans knees.
ShAE EN- v.
There is a spur in anguish that only the
cruelty goaded know. Jacob had hithert
been fairly successful, but had attained Ii,
especial eminence in his profession, own:
to the easy comfort of happy surrounding,
He had shown occasional flashes of brill
fancy in some of the law cases he conduct
ed, but that was all.
Now all his faculties seemed aroused and
iOtnncjfinH 10 lnb ba2
before. He threw himself into his work
with force and recklessness that achieved
wonders.
In six months time he was famous. Peo,
pie crowded into the courtroom whenever
1t was known that young Jacob Lane was t,
speak. His logic was convincing, and hi
eloquence carried his listeners along witt
him, as if swept on bya a torrent. 1t soon
came to be that he refused to take any bu,
great cases, and his time was worth more
in dollars and cents than that of any lawyer
in the city.
Within year he was rich enough to
leave his modest home in Charles street anG
move into one of the brown stone mansions
on Fifth avenue. He did this because he
had return of the old stifed feeling that
he used to feel as boy in the mountains.
wanted more room and air.
What he would have done In those days
OF despair without little Alice it would bt
hard to say. At times, when the hungry
longing to see his wife again came over him,
1t was only the sight of the wee blossom
face that kept him from self-destructlon
In the course of time his PAIN grew less
and gradually the wound was at last not
healed but SCARED over.
But in place of the bright-faced, confident,
innocent, frank, clear-eyed youth, who, il
his joyousness, might have stood for !;
statue of hope itself, was pale, stern mal
whose every word was decisive and who's
every action had force and strength. A.
home, on the street, he was quiet, reticent
seeking no friendships, needing no man
Only in the courtroom did the life within
him glow and leap and flash and burn
arousing, astonishing and warning HI,
hearers. Right and wrong right ant
wrong! That was his battle-cry, as hi
bugle-notes denounced the wrong an,
thundered for the right. 1t seemed as
the one great evil he had suffered himse
had eaten into his very soul, and tina
naught could help him but rightng al
wrongs for all men.
One evening, several years after Roses
desertion of him, when he was sitting on,
night in the library of his beautiful home,
little Alice surprised him by saying:
"Papa, hasn't dot any mama?"
"No, dear" Jacob answered, gently; "she
is dead. I told you once before"
''Poor mama," said the cild. kissing 8
pretty French doll she held in her arms. "a