Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-06-05

MIS-. OllIlO >, Vi Scut d uObc OI entTcdty
to Olive; but, poor girl, she dreaded
the meeting terribly.
AT last, however, she yielded, and APP
her. In the meantime she received a
communication from Messers. Ferrit 81
Ketchem, informing her that she was
the sole heir to all the money lett by
| Joseph Nelson, amounting to very near
ly million of dollars.
She had Just received this intelligence,
when Johns card was brought to her.
Not for an instant did she dread a meet
ing with him. She knew she would al
ways be dear to him, no matter how
| fearful the ravages of disease or time.
John was so happy at seeing her again,
so joyous with the hope of winning her.
His cheerfulness did her more good
than the intelligence conveyed by Fer
rit & Ketchem. He had been with her
several hours before she placed in his
| hands tile letter from those gentlemen.
| And then she told him of Willis, her
| doubts for time, and his entreaties
| since.
Poor John! Quickly the clouds
| gathered over his sunshine. Manfully
he strove to hide his disappointment,
for her sake. She saw the change, but
| did not understand the cause.
"You doubt Willis? Indeed you do
him injustice. | know what you think
But It's not so. Long before this news
could possibly have been known he
| begged me to receive him.
"And you will, Olive" he said, in
| low, agitated tone.
81 cannot tell. Tomorrow | shall
| see hin. And Heaven only knows
what the result will be. My heart is
pleading for him, but fear to listen to
it. Oh, John, if he were only like you
If | could trust him If, when looking
into his eyes, l could read my answer as
in yours, | should know just what to
say. But [ cannot read what / see in
your eyes now John. Tell me what it
| is"
"Oh, Olive, | am wishing your
fortune would take wings and flee away"
"Go, go, you cruel brother! 1 will
not have you making such wishes, " she
said. 'But come back tomorrow, John,
please; tomorrow evening. | may
need your loving advice them" she adj
ded, in tone very different from the
merry one with which she had answered
him.
Willis Mordaunt was waiting Olives
coming in the parlor. He had schooled
| himself to meet the great change, but it
was only by a powerful effort that he
suppressed the exclamation of surprise,
and almost horror, that arose to his lips.
! Olive entered the room with down
cast eyes. She dreaded seeing on his
! face the expression she feared was there.
| Willis played his part we'll He
promised unchanging love; declared
/ oh, To hot
and had almost succeeded in making her
believe in and trust him again, when the
entrance of a servant, bringing Johns
card, interrupted them.
"Ask the gentleman into the reception
room, and say l will see him in a few
moments" Olive said to the man, and
then turned quickly to Willis.
His eyes were fixed upon her, and oh
she could not mistake the expression of
his face 1t was all she had feared, and
worse The truth had flashed upon her.
| In an instant was told the misery of
years; should she trust him again
He feared she might have caught the
look he could no longer restrain, and
feigned it was one of annoyance only,
saying:
How provoking this Interruption!
She raised her eyes then, and looking
into his. said with a calm, steady voice:
. 1t was opportune. Willis Mordaunt,
your face is more truthful than your
tongue. Thank Heaven, | know you
now. Why you have sought me again,
you know better than l. But enough.
know that can trust you no more.
She turned and left him, with words
of entreaty on his lips.
HAS he gone, Oliver"
" Yes, John, gone forever"
And you, my child, my darling
little Olive, how can you speak so calm
ly of his going?"
ooh, because I feel as if had just
been drawn back from the brink of a
fearful precipice. | am saved, John,
from life of misery, l know And it
was by your coming | am saved, Olive
said, and then she told him all about it.
"Olive," he said, when she had fin
ished, "let me try to make you love me.
Oh, child, if you only knew"
g Hush :" she said 80 Put down your
ear and let me tell you something"
What she whispered, shall not tell.
But what John answered was: /
THANK God have won my love at
last"