Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-02-23

the venetian WlhNoW III lie oWil'ttf ne
fair-headed, bue-eyed Saxon-ookiug youth
she so eNquisitely dark and glowing.
Every one liked her. Even my old clerk
Stephen Hadley, used to say hor presence
lii the Office more than a dozen lamps-the
nearest approach to q poetical speech Of
which old Stephen was ever known TO be
guilty. and | never know how much she
was 10 me until one evening, when, coming
home earlier than usual saw in that Nene-
tian window where Ashton and Olive had
made so many pleasant pictures for me, one
that | never forget--that | never shall for
get as long as live.
She stood with her back TO me. Ashton
was kneeling at her feet. The sound of the
opening door dissolved the picture but
had seen it, and | stole away to hide the
stab that it had given me.
| sat down in my own room and hid nav
face in my hands, and would have been glad
TO hide IL beneath my colliu-id. knew now
that | loved Olive Hunter that loved her
not as an old man might love child, but as
young man might love the woman who
ought to be his better than / had
loved Elsie Hall for it was not boyish pas
sion, but earnest heartfelt love.
in love 1 arose and looked in the mir
ror and my broad.shouldercd reflection
blushed before my gaze The spriugtime Of
my life had flown, and my summer had come
aud gone, and In the autumn bad dreamt
Of loves bud and blossom.
/ hnelt beside my bed and prayed that
might not hate my brother-that I might
not even envy him. His touch upon my
door startled me. lie came in with some
thing in his manner not usual with him. and
sat down opposite me. For few moments
we were both silent. Then he said speak
ing rapidly, and blushing like a eirl Ned
old fellow, you--you saw me making fool
of myself just now, ! suppose p
" | saw you on your knees" ] said.
&" And thoughtme a silly fellow, eh ? But
YOU don't know. Ned. You can't under
stand you've been so calm and coolal your
life through, you know. She's driving me
mad. Ned, do believe she likes me, but
she won't say yes. I'd give my right hand
for her love. | must have it, and think you
can help me, Ned. From something She
said believe she thinks you would disap-
prove; perhaps you are one Of those old fel-
lows who want every one to marry for
money. Tell her you are not. Ned-dear
old fellow-tell her You have no objection,
and III never forget it-iudeed, WON'T
Tell her have no objection | repeated,
mechanically
"You know YOU are master here, and AS
much my father as if you really were one in
stead of a brother" said Ashton. ." If did
not know how kindly you had always felt to
us both, should not coniide in you, for it's
a serious thing 10 be in love, Ned, and
YOU may thank heaven you know nothing
about it."
Know nothing about it. All, if he could
have read my heart lust theu
I'll do what | can, Ashton | said at
last. "l'll try my best
And he flung his arm about me in his own
bOyish fashion, and left me alone--alone
with my own thoughts.
lie had said, truly, had been like a
father to him. | was old enough TO be hers,
and no one should know my silly dream.
would hide it while lived. As had said
once "I've only the old folks and the chill
dren now" | said then; will only think
of mother and of Ashton. Let my own life
be as nothing; have lived for them--if
needs be, ! will die for them
But | would not see or speak to Olive that
night, nor until the next day was quite done
Then, in the twilight, sat beside her and
took her hand.
"Oliye,' | said, Il think you know that
Ashton loves YOU. am sure he has told
you SO. And you--can you not love him 2"
She drew her hand from mine, and said
not one word.
" should rejoice in my brothers happi-
ness. | should think him happier in having
your love than anything else could make
him. | told him | would tell you so.'
And then she spoke.
You wish me to marry Ashton "
Reproach was in the tone-reproach and
sorrow.
eff you can love him, Olive" | said.
She arose. She seemed TO shrink from
me, though in the dark | could not see her
face.
&" do not love him." she said.
And we were still as DEATH Then sud
denly Olive Hunter began 10 sob.
You have been very kind to me. | love
you all, she said 4" but | cannot stay here
now. Please to let me go somewhere else.
must--l cannot live here"
Go from u.s. Olive 2" | said Nay, we
are net tyrants and once assured you do
not love him, Ashton will
Hush " she pleaded hush Please
let ne go away Please let me go away
The moon was rising. Her newborn light
fell upon Olives face. Perhaps its white
ness made her look pale.
She leaned against the wall, with her little
hand upon her heart, her unfathomable eyes
full OF pain. How had | hurt so ? A new
| thought struck me.
Perhaps you love some one else, Olive %
Aud at that she turned her face from me,
and hid it in her hands.
Too much-too much. You might have
saved me that" she said. Let me go away.
| wish you had never brought me here
And arose and went to her. bent over
the woman loved. ! touched her with my
hand her soft hair brushed my cheek,
Olive" | said, "if coming here has
brought pain upon you, | wish had not. !
would rather have died TO make you happy"
And my voice trembled, and my hand
shook, aud she turned her face towards me
again, and looked into my eyes. What she
saw in mine | do not know-the truth,
think. In hers ! read this | was not too
old 10 her not to old to be loved.
| stole my arm about hers she did not un-
twine it.. uttered her name, "Olive,'
huskily. Afterwards told her OF my strug-
Gle with myself-not then. | said "Olive,
| love you, but it cannot be that you care
for me. am old enough to be your father"
And again | saw in her eyes the happy
truth, and took her to my heart.
But we kept our secret for while, for we
both loved Ashton, aud both knew that this
wound was not too deep to find balm and
within year, when the boy brought home
bride-a pretty creature whom he loved
and who loved him-I claimed Olive.
And She is mine now aud the autumn
blossoms of my heart will only fade on
earth TO bloom again through all eternity in
paradise. Erchahge.