Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1871-12-09

Unused 10 WOmen5 s modes and
ways, he was at a loss what to dO.-
lie had an idea, though. that when
q lady tainted cold water was the
thing, so he sprinkled her face with
the cup Standing on the table within
reach Of his hand, and manlike be
drew her head down upon his shout
der.
She was not altogether uncon-
scious, for She made a weak move
ment 70 withdraw herself from his
arm, but he whispered: "Trust me
and lie still, will you not. till yOu are
bctters' conscious the while Of an
odd pleasant thrill at his heart as
her face lay so near his own that hc
could have touched il with his lips.
Ii he had been a dozen years Older
hc would most likely have yielded
TO the temptation and kissed the
roses back to her cheeks, but there
was lust the least bit OF boyish tim
idity vet about him, and-bcsidcs be
could not forget that he was the
cause of this very illness, and bis
heart smote him regretfully every
time he looked at her.
She sent him away, by-and-hy, a.
son as she was able 10 situp with
out support. She wouldnot let hin
90 home, with her, either, though he
begged her TO let him fdO so; she
would do better by herself, she said.
But seeing the troubled look in his
eyes as he turned away, she relented
80 far as 10 say:
Il trust we part as friends
lie came back to her al this, saying
earnestly: =.
'.Can you be my friend after what
YOU have known of me for the past
two months?"
Il can bel am sincerely your
THANK YOU for that knowing
il, | shall not carry such troubled
conscience away with me.
All! he never guessed that, in
stead Of troubled conscience, he
was carrying Olive Burnetts heart
with him.
Ii was seven years before they
looked upon each others face again-
Such a long, long interval. Those
seven years had changed Scott Cold
rick into successful business man,
steadily amassing his thousands, and
alive to the brilliant, courted young
widow Mrs. Logan.
She had grown heart sick Of teach
ing, and one day, an desperate
mood, gave il up and married Paul
Logan, the rich landowner. Scott
Goldrick, hearing Of IL in the dis
tant city where he was living, said;
-'Such a pityi She was one woman
Of thousand. and deserves better
man than that"
Uon paul cnrov evaE n hnffpr
man than Scott Goldrick's word
would seem 10 imply; and, better
still. his gold brought an comfort 10
the helpless mother until she died,
and a home with all the advantages
of wealth 10 the little sisters. And
now, with her husband two years in
the grave, Mrs. Logan went freely
into society once more.
such lovely woman" men said
when speaking of her; and Scott
GoldrieE indorsed the verdict when
be met her at \ receptions one even
Ing, and the hostess, supposing them
to be unacquainted, presented him.
It was the Olive Burnett of seven
years ago who smiled up at him as
She said to Mrs. Lake: ''Alr. Gold
rick and j are very old friends
you remember me, then." he
said, as he led her away.
II shall never forget was the
swecily grave reply.
But somehow, with this fMiering
beginning they did nOtseemto make
much progress in the renewal OF
their acquaintanceship. Meeting
often as they did at party aud ball
receptions, at concerts and theatres
and operas, there was always an in-
dcfinable something existing be-
tween them; and il was quite at the
close of the winter that, calling ono
morning on Mrs. Logan 10 make his
| adieu before leaving town, Scott
Goldrick fingered q moment as he
bowed over her hand az parting, TO
say half jestingly, but yet in earnest,
too:
"Do yon remember the old school
house?''
eyes remember. lam going out
! there on purpose 90 see 10 this COM
! ing summer"
"And i, too. Who knows but
what we shall meeig'
1t was in the midst of August
heats that Mrs. Logan, paving ny
Ing visit TO Ryefield, procured the
/ kew to the old schoolhouse-empty
now for summer vacation - and
/ walked down there alone one AFTER
noon to take a look al il.
The door swung rustily upon ITS
/ hinges rs she entered and looked
strangely about. lt was not the
eleanest place in the world, for n
coat of dust. raised by the last
sweeping. had settled over every
thing, but the rough-cOated walls
looked as familiar as ever, and the
glazed maps hanging there aud the
unnainted wooden benches. 1t was
| i'm that corner Scott Goldrick used
! 10 sit-and remembering, tide OF
recollection rushed over her, and
| she sat down in the low-backed
chair. and laid her head on the pine
table just as she had done that even
| ing more than seven years before.
Sitting there bUried in thought,
/ she did not hear the footsteps that
! crossed the threshold-that paused
at the door and then came TO her.
while voice said:
- Miss Burnett, 1 am going away.
| VIII you bid me goodbye Z"
She looked up with little cry
/ TO meet her bright, handsome face,
and heavy waves of chestnut hair.
9. You are really here, Mr.. Gold
riekl | could almost believe that
the old days were coming back
/ again"
You used to call me Scott, them
he said significantly, coming round
and kneeling on one knee beside her
| chair. " You are not pale, now, so
| shall not sprinkle your face with
water" glancing at the empty cup
/ standing upon the table, but !
should like 10 have your head on my
shoulder"
She made movement TO rise but
he detained her.
Don't be offended, Olive" he said
| earnestly. 81 made confession of
my sins that night; let me make
another confession now. think !
began to love YOU that eveping, but
was a boy; now know that love
/ YOU. Your face has always been
before me, the sweetest and bnest in
the world. You sent me away nom
you then-don't be so cruel again.
! want to stay with YOU always.
Olive. want to be your husband.
/ For answer she put up her hand
dliu uItW Ms hSot W ~ ~"
shoulder. And the brown walls
must have opened eyes Of astonish-
ment, if eyes thev had, to see Scott
G0ldrick kissing the blushing little
woman. You see when a Inah fails
in love for the first time at twenty
seven, he is apt TO be desperately IN
earnest.
And in the gathering gloom OF
twilight they locked the door OF the
old school-house behind them, and
turned their steps homeward. not
teacher and pupil now, bat pIshted
man and wife.