South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1874-06-19
o L I v Ia.
BY PRESLEY W. MORRIS.

o.'s"s JUGS seuefaliy uer cneekS gloWed
with little deeper touch of crimson than
usual /; and perhaps her bosom was rising
and falling little more rapidly with the
excitement. However, ,ha. she should be
somewhat excited was only natural, for q
vast audience of people was before her. She
had never sung 10 such an audience
Her name was OLIVIA VANsANT, and
she was Mrs. RIcuMoND's governess. Her
voice had attracted much attention in the
musical circle of Parkersburg, so that when
this concert,for the benefit of some school,
or something of the kind, was arranged,
her name was on the programme. Aud
| now the curtain rose for her 10 sing.
A murmur of admiration ran through the
throng. OLIVIA advanced step, aud the
murmur died away into silence. Then she
sang.
AT first her voice was tremulous. Then
all embarrassment left her, and she threw
her whole heart into the music. The audi
ence sat as under q spell, seeming scarcely
to dare to breathe.
She ceased. A. storm of applause shook
the house loud was it, and long continued.
1t would not be bushed, save by the reap
pearance of OLIVIA VANsANT.
They are calling you, Miss VAYsANT,'
said the manager. will you slug again P
She went out again and began tender
little love.song. Then her eyes fell upon
face bent eagerly towards her, tho face of
young man. There was mueh in that
gaze of his, pride, admiration, and yes out
Of his eyes love was looking. They were
dark and passionate eyes, showing at that
Instant the whole soul of the man. HAIR
RY PENRYTu was OLIVIA VANsAyT's most
humble adUrer, and she was not unconsci-
ous of the fact. And just now he was thrill
ling beneath tho voice of tho beautiful wo-
man es he had never thrilled beneath any
power before
Only for an instant did his gaze hold hers.
Her eyes wandered over the assemblage
Directly they seemed to open wider. She
grew very white-evidentlv some powerful
emotion had seized her. Her voice died a
way, and she staggered forward There
was catastrophe. Her light over-drcss
touched the footights, AID in on instant
blaze shot up over her. a great terror
fell upon tho audience. There was an aud.
ible groan, shivor of pain that ran all O.
YER the house. What terrible fate SEEM
cd in store for the magnificent voiced beau
tiful woman
With cry, HARRY PENRYTU sprang
towards the stage but be was anticipated.
An agile form was already there when ho
was twenty feet away. A tall dark beard
man beat him to tho rescue. lie acted.
Snatching the baize covering from the pi-
ano on the stage, he threw it around the
blazing figure of tho girl His arms were
about, her, and for second she was clasp.
ed close TO his bosom. Quickly there was
an abundance of aid A victory was soon
won. And when cry Of inquiry went up
from the audience, the answer was
She is not much hurt !; but she has
fointed.'
She was carried from tho stage, and short
ly began to return to consciousness Her
preserver had disappeared.
ALEX, | cav ALEX murmured OIL
VIA, as she recovered her senses Where
am p
Then, before any reply could be made,
she added
Il remember it now. / saw ALEX out
there in the crowd then then-the fire
shot up about mo Somebody must have
'Who saved me 2 sho asked suddenly,
after moments thought.
"a stranger was the answer.
what was BIO like 2
'Ho was TALL dark.boarded, handsome
man.
OLIVIA Stands flew up TO her bosom and
were clencbed there, resting upon her benrt
She became silent.
Although her namo was still on The pro-
gramme, she sang 90 more that night, of
course. There was not burn upon her,
but still she was weak from The effects of
the excitement she had undergone.
BY the next morning her strength was
nearly recovered but the face that she had
behcld in the audience was ever before her
eyes.
90, ALEX ALEX I love you still. was
thought that was with her continually.
10 the afternoon she was alone in her
room, when a card was brought up to her.
Could il be his No She read the name.
HARRY PENBYTH was written there.
Il will SEQ him, che said to herself,
YEARLY.
Then she went down. lie reached on.
bis hand 10 her.
i am SO glad he said, That you were
not injured
Thank you, for your interest, she re
turned, simply.
4 was fastening to your aid, but was
anticipated HARRY continued. Il would
have gloTiod Ia saving you, but | heartily
rejoice as it IS, for you arc safe. / might
have been too late
The girl leaned Der face upon her hand
Yes, she murmured, absenuy.
You sang magnidcently, MissVANsAYT.,
HARRY observed.