The Irish standard., 1890-01-18
u. TN Gle AARON
4 "a WIFE REDEEMED.
"a Pathetic Story OF a Woman's 8
Folly and a Mans Heroism.
BY MRS. IsOBEL HI. FLOYD.
LCopyrleht. 1897


.drandpa and drandma's tuminW
sTaisez, taisez, Mignon,' said sweet
faced French governess, coming Into the
room. ''Vous faites trop de b-:,li5p pour votre
papa"
I, 'sMais non, Therese," cried the baby
voice, finishing up in emphatic American.
English; 'sI doesn't! Does I, papa?"
q swell, little, my DEAR" answered
Jacob, smiling. 'Ran along to bed now,
there's a good girl; so that papa can write
the letter, you know"
'sAll yight. Goodnight, my very own
papa 'Oo div em my love, and ask 'em to
tum kickl" And the little fairy danced of
to bed. But Jacob did not write at once
af er little Alice left him. He sat by the
grate-fre, dreaming g-looking into the Goals,
and thinking Of the past.
ssLittle Alice is rightr' he said to him
self, at length, ''and have been selfish
brute not to have thought of them before.
Poor father and motherl They must indeed
have thought me heartless. And so am Il
have no love left to give any one! Ohl
Rose, Rose! Ohl my wifel How could
you?"
Again the old pain---again the old ache.
'sIt is hard to bury what is yet alive."
thought Jacob, whiulsically.
He went to his desk, sat down and wrote
to Uncle Aaron. Then, putting on his hat
and 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 suick-
cred; for there, standing before him, were
Uncle Aaron and Aunt Kate, in all the
glory of their best clothes, locking like
caricatures of themselves and burlesgues
of recent fashion plates.
''Bees Mr.. Jacob Lane at homer" said
Uncle Aaron, smiling. while he wiped the
perspiration off his forehead with a Dig
pictured handkerchief.
''No, sah," grinred Sam; ''he done gone
down to de boat to meet his farder an mud
der, sah.'
"Well, now, Aaron, I told you that Jacob
would meet us, only yer wouldn't wait, but
had to walk me away up here, and I'm all
tuclzered out" whined Aunt Kate.
'iWe'll come in, young man, and rest, l
reckon - said Uncle Aaron. "You see the
city streets are hard On the feet when you
ssaain't used to 'em, and my wife's clean
bired.''
"Certanly, sah,' said Sam, with the col
ored mans ready poiiteness; sSWalk right
dis way'' Butto himself he was thinking:
ssF'ore de Lord am desc yere his folks? Hi!
Wonder what little Miss Alice wln sayH
He ushered them into the reception room on
one side Of the hall, and then politely said: !:
ssIs dar uuffln / can get yer, sab, or you,
ma 'am?"
s.Well, tell you what" said Aunt Kate,
"I'd like a cup of tea right well Eff 1t won't
bother any one, I'd like to go to the kitchen
and make ourselves a cup Of tear-Td like
hhat.n
"Couldn't think, ma am, of you so disturb
In yourself said mischievous Sam, bowing
with the grace Of a Chesterfield. "I'il speak
to de cook and bring it to you right byar,
directly" And before Aunt Kate could
stop him or remonstrate with him, he was
out the door aud gone
Left to themselves, Uncle Aaron and
Aunt Kate looked around them in admira-
tion at their beautiful surroundings. But
sven their admiration was cLaracterlstic--
for Aunt Kate's was mixed with feeling
of awe and half fear, while Uncle Aaron
nodded his head with a satisfied smile, as
If he met after g 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, ana
Uncle Aaron was standing before hne
water-color, smiling and looking happy,
when suddenly Alice, datntlly dressed and
hugging her beloved dollie in her arms.
stood within the Turkish portieres that
Araped the doorway.
"Oo-o!" she said @ ~.
,ssLand sakes!' cried Aunt Kate.
ssWhy, this must be Alicer said Uncle
Aaron.
With the swift recognition that children
49, - &hnS a V70n
aropped her doll and without a moments
hesitation went to Uncle Aaron's out
stretched hands Ee stood up in bis great
height and happin ess, beautiful picture,
with the child in his arms. Aunt Kate
looked at them as she ever looked at every
thing, doubtfully.
.sMy wee woman my wee womani" said
Uncle Aarcn, talking to her as lovers do.
And for answer Alice kissed him emphat-
ically several times, pulling her tiny fingers
through his long gray beard. Aunt Kate
stood stiff and straight, looking at them
both
.ssBeant yer agoin' to speak to meF she
said at last. prirnly. tsrm your grand
mother
ssIs seea' questioned Alice, lifting up her
great blue eyes to Uncle Aaron.
Eyes; in sartin, your grammar KISS
her. there's e. good Child"
Thus directed, little Alice got down from
Uncle Aaron, smoothed down her pretty
dress, tossed her curls over her shoulder
and said :ss Chow de doc, drandmaP' and
held 10 her wee mouth for q kiss Thank
God that nature is at times too strong for
as. For once Aunt Kat, forgot to carp
and whine. All her woman g heart went
out to the wee mouth held up to hers. my
babyl,, she cried, and then gathering up the
tiny form with all its pretty lace and frills
to her broad, motherly breast, she held her
close. And the child felt the mother love
and was not afraid ); only nestled the closer.
she kissed and crowed over her as mothers
do, ana Alice, at last lifting up her mbled,
curly head, said wisely:
& 90 tan go now, drandpa; 90 tan 60 70
bizzeness wiv papa. Dood-bye."
n Uncle Aaron & stood, big, nonplulssed.
awkward. Ha was surprised, as many of
u his brother rsea haze been%b before him, and
those al ter Ii, III viii be again, at that
~ range freelnas ~ Of woman kind u the
crises OF il fa, be they young or old, Of high
sor low egrse Plain ~ he was not wanted
Eoril,l, ately d few moment after Jacob
sIretu rned =, sorry that he had
4 ~ them IL the boat was rafn ner