The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1876-01-31

| lllHu lulbuL IOfC buG hOLuhL WIZ OhSht
to be his wifc-bettcr than l had loved
Elsie Hall; for it was not boyish pas.
sion, but earnest, heartfelt love.
I in love / arose and looked in tho
mirror, and my broad-shouldered retlec.
ton blushcd before my gaze. Tho
springtimo Of my lifo had flown, andmy
summer had come and gone, and in the
autumn had dreamt Of loves bud and
blossom.
I knolt beside my bed and prnyedthat
1 might not hate my brother-that I
might not evon envy him. His touch
upon my door startled mo. He came in
with something in his manner not usual
to him, and sat down opposite mo. For
n few moments We were silent. Then he
said, speaking rapidly and blushing like
q girl: "Ned, old fellow, you-you saw
me making q fool Of myself just now, !
supposel"
"I saw you on your knees" said.
"And thought me silly fellow, ell !
But you don't know, Ned. You cant
uuderstaud-you've been SO calm and
cool all your lifo through, you know.
She's driving me mad. Ned, do be-
lieye she likes me, but she won't say
yes. I'd give my right hand for her
love. must havo it, and I think you
can help me, Ned. From something
she said, I believe she thinks you would
disapprove; perhaps you Arc ono OF those
old fellows who want every ono to marry
for money. Tell her you're not. Ned
dear old fellow-tell lor you have no
objection. and I'll never forget it-in.
deed, I won't!"
"Tell her I havo no objection" l rc-
pcated, mechanically.
"You know you are master here, and
as much my father rs if you really were
one instead OF brother, " said Ashton.
"If l did not know how kindly you had
always felt to us both, shouldn't con-
tide in you, for it's serious thing to be
in love, Ned, and you may thank
Heaven you know nothing about it."
Know nothing about it. ALI, if ho
could have read my heart Just then!
"Ill do what can, Ashton" I said
at last. "I'll try my best"
And he flung his arm about mo in his
own boyish fashion, and left mo alone
alone with my own thoughts.
Hc had said truly; I had been like n
father to him. was old enough to be
hers, and no ono should know my silly
dream. would hide it while l lived.
As had said once !: "1'vo only tho old
folks and the children now," said
then az will only think OF mother and
of Ashton. Let my own life bo as moth
ing; I have lived for them If needs be,
I will die for them"
But would not SEQ or speak to Olive
that night, nor until the next day was
quite done. Then, in the twilight, l sat
beside her and took her hand.
"Olive, I said, az think you know
TINT Ashton loves you. l am sure he
has told you SO. And you-cIn you not
love himi"
She drew her hand from mine, and
said not one word.
"I should rejoice in my brothers
happiness. I should think him happier
in having your love than anything else
could make him. l told him l would
tell you SO"
And then she spoke.
"You wish me to marry Ashtonl"
Reproach was in the tono-rcproach
md sorrow.
"If you can love him, Olive" l
said.
She arose. Sho seemed to shrink
from me, though in tho dark could not
see her face.
81 do not lovc him., sho said.
And We were still rs death. Then sud-
denly Olive Hunter began to sob.
"You have been very kind to ne. l
love YOU all," she said; "but I cannot
stay here now. Please to let me go
somewhere else. I must-1 cannot live
here"
"Go from US, Olivcl" said:: "Nay,
We are not tyrants; and oIco assured
you do not love him, Ashton will =
"Hush |" she pleaded =" "hush
Please let me go away Please let me
go away!'
Tho moon was rising. Her newborn
light fell upon Olives face. Perhaps its
whitoness made her look pale.
She leaned against tho wall with her
little hand upon her heart, her unfath.
-mable eyes full of pain. How had l
hurt 80 A new thought struck me.
"PerhNps you love some one else,
Olive Z"
And ut 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. "Lct
me go away. 1 wish you had never
brought me here"
And arose and went TO her. bent
over the woman l loved. ! touched her
with my hand; her soft hair brushed my
| cheek.
solve" said, "if coming here has
brought pain upon you, l wish had
not. would have died to make You
happy"
And my voice trembled, and my hand
shook, and she turned her fRce towards
mo again and looked into my eyes.
What she saw in minc do not know
the truth, I think. In hers I read this {:
was not old to her not too old to be
loved.
1 stole my arm about her, she did not
untwino It. l uttered her name,
"Olivc," huskily. Afterwards | told
horT of my: struggle with myself, not
then. / said "Olive, I love you, but
il cannot be TINT you care for me. l am
old enough to bo your father"
And again saw nher eyes tho happy
truth and took her to my heart.
But we kept our secret for n while.
for we both loved Ashton, and both
knew that this wound was not too deep
to find balm; and within year, when