Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1856-03-13


Wrapper, and stolen down stairs t
! the little sittiDg-room where kner
The would be sitting by the fire side
] Yes, he was there, and sitting
quiet and still, / could not tel
anything by his face as | entered
but perhaps that was because l hat
not courage5to half look. bea
4 I slipped in very softly ebehine
him, and before he could see me, was
nestled on the sofa by his side, with
my face behind his shoulder. nl
/ thought he would be surprised
or pleased to see me-or at least
expected him to speak to me; but he
never said a word he sat still look
ing intothe fire. - =
Then / knew how it was--he had
received a bitter-a terrible disap-
pointment. My heart smote nae
what we're my girlish griefs COM
pared with the. deep, manly sorrow
which shadowed that dear beloved
face? / realised thatto see Harry
unhappy was to me the cruelest OF
sorrows put my two arms around
his neck, aud vept bitterly.
Harry turned then with such a
e
kind, gentle smile, and merely said,
as he drew me to him:
do not cry, my poor little Olive,
do not cry He soothed me and
caressed me as if | we're child. Af-
terwards he added, in sterner voice:
eyes, it is all over now, and |
must bear my disappointment like a
man.
I He did bear it like man. | saw
and understood all bis struggles his
stern endurance of his sorrow. saw
how keenly he suffered, and yet how
bravely and cheerfuIly he bore him.
self; / loved him more and more;
and yet I was so sorry for him, that
if I had thought it would have been
OF any use, would have gone myself
to the lady whom he blessed with his
love, and pleaded with her for him
But for this it was quite too late.
Miss Rutherford was already en-
gagged to another when she returned
home.
But much as / suffered in seeing
Harry suffer, | had one consolation.
He did not brood in moody silence
over his disappointment; he loved to
talk with me on the theme nearest his
heart. He liked to tell me, again
and again, all the particulars OF bis
acquaintance with Miss Rutherford.
OF the pleasant days when they trav-
eled together-ofher exceeding love-.
illness, and Of the many little incl
dents on which be founded his hopes
bis almost certainty of her preference,
and of his utter inability to account
for the fiokleness which had prompt
ed her to unite herself to another; +.
did not suggest that the supe.
rior fortune Of the new lover might
be his attraction for fear of paining
Harry; but apart from all feminine
jealousy, that is my view Of the
case, from which nothing can ever
change me.
Be that as it may, Harry thought
her perfection; he sorrowed and
grieved for her; and | had enough to
do to console him. Oh, how thank
full felt to know that | had the
power to do SO. And when L had
succeeded in chasing the gloomy
clouds from bis brow, and | saw him
smiling and cheerful, felt as happy
as queen, One day he said to me:
MY dear, kind Olive, how well
YOU know how to comfort me. How
should you understand so well what
u feel and necd--how have you
learned?' s.sss..s !
4 have had similar sorrow NY
selr,' ] replied, with a trembling voice.
Harry looked at me tenderly, and
drew me to him-sMy poor, little
Olive! So
/ lei. him with bursting tears,
exclaiming, Don't pity me, don't
II can't bear it, = !. 49,
From this time / often noticed
Harry's eyes gazing on me with ten
der, plying interest knew what
he was thinking Of, and q blush new
er failed to rise to my cheek, for !
trembled for my secret, which was
however, never more secure. .sTs
!. Harry's mind gradually regained
a more buoyant tone, His thoughts
we're no longer conf! confined 70 e single