Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1874-10-03

ARE not in much demand"
"But ought TO be kept in book
stores," he said, pointedly.
Olive asserted, and after paying
for his purchase, the young man
left the store.
"Ahw said the doctor, 81 begin
to preceive that you're a formidable
business rival. Even those who
were inclined to ridicule your efforts
at first are forced tO~tespect them
nOw."
slow different, though, it would
have been, had | failed y
"CertainIy. Success is the critic
rion of merit with the world. Let a
woman do any kind of work til at
n as hitherto been monopolized by
men, as well or better then they,
and it will accomplish more in over
turning the prejudices of society than
to talk about it hundred years.
Nor are the obstacles placed in her
way so great as they appear
Please tell me frankly, Miss Olive
have you not been treated with
courtesy in business dealings with
men ?!
"Always. But l have never ask
Ell anything save fair play, and
have tried not to appeal to their
chivalrous sense Of protection, even
unconsiously."
"Just there is a secret few women
understand" said the DOCTOR" They
won't see the distinction between
social and business relations, and
expect the same consideration to be
paid them in the one case as in the
the other"
Olives attention was again claim.
ed by a customer, and the doctor
soon afterward took his leave. That
night he wrote to Vivien Ross.
In his letter was the following
passage -
"Olivc Wayne has developed into one OF the
nobest women God ever made. At home she
is housekeeper, nurse, and teacher, for her
mother is helpless and inefficient as ever in
two sets of duties never clash the one with
the other. Under her training, Claiice and
the boys are guided into noble ways of living
and thinking. Mr. Stctson, the young banker
lately made her au offer of marriage, but was
rejected. Men are growing tired of dolls and
playthiugs, and want wives with intellects as
wol as hearts,
Vivien Ross answered the letter
after awhile, but made no allusion
to Olive. Either he wasn't convinc-
ed of his error yet, or was to proud
to own it.
So the years passed on until five
had rolled away. Olive Wayne was
still single, but had enlarged her
bookstore, and added to it various
Improvements. She had succeeded
in the business beyond her most
sanguine expectations, and was fast
amassing an independent fortune.
Her labors were greatly lightened
by her brother Alfred, who, although
but seventeen, showed a great deal
of judgement and sagacity in busi
ness matters. She had intended
sending him to college with his twin
brother Arthur, but the two boys
were entirely different, for while
one was fond of books and study,
the other liked better an active life.
and the tumOil of business. Alfred
was therefore elected her assistant
and successor; and Arthur, having
expressed a desire to enter the
ministry, WAS sent where he could
prepare for this high vocation.
Clarice had developed into a lovely
woman. But it was not her sweet
face that chiefly attracted people ;
it was the mind and character it re-
vealed. Her musical talents had
been sedulously cultivated through
Olives exertions, and she was thus
rendered independent of pecuniary
aid.
And how was it with Olive ! Had
she forgotten Vivien Rosss No;
but her life bad rounded out into
fullness and content, and the love
she had lost only made her more
tender and patient.
But what of Vivien himself ?
Had he put Olive out of his thoughts
and heart entirely! He had never
looked upon her face, or mentioned
her name, since their last fatal IN
terview. But he was still unmar-
ried, though established in lucra-
tive practice. His home was in
K-,a thriving Western city
Thus matters stood when Clarice
proposed a trip to the seashore.
"Alfred can take charge of the
sforp - said shp Uand ma NINA needs |