The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-04-07

knelt beside my bed, and prayed
tliat might not hate my brother
.uat might not even envy him.
lis touch upon my door startled my.
Iie came in with something in his
'nanner not usual to him, and sat
uoWn opposite me. For a few mo-
ments we were silent. Then he said,
speaklng rapidly and blushing, like
q grl, "Ned, old fellow. you-you
saw me making a fool of myself Just
now, ! suppose ?"
u saw you on your knees" 1 said.
and thought me a silly fellow,
en- But you don't know, Ned.
Io9 can't understand-you've been
~ eaim and cool all your life through,
you Know. She is driving me mad,
ed, L do believe she likes me, but
/ she Won't say yes. I'd give my right
M + ssssf lsxas ] psusf nave it.
at.d 1 think you can help me, Ned,
From something she said, l believe
she thinks you would dIsapprove,
perhaps you are one of those old fell
lows who want every one to marry
for money. Tell her you're not, Ned,
dear old fellow, tell her you have no
objection, and Pll never forget it, in
deed | won't"
"Tell her have no objection ?'' l
repeated mechanically.
You know you are master here.
and as much my father as if YOU
were really one, instead ola brother.n
said Ashton. eff 1 did not know
how kindly you had always felt to
us both l should not cOnfide in you,
for it is serious thing to be in love,
Ned, and you may thank Heaven
you know nothing of it,"
Know nothing of it! All, if he
could have read my heart just then
"I'll do what l can, Ashton" 1
said at last. "I'll try my best.'
And he flung his arms around me
in his own boyish fashion, and left
me alone-al0ne with my own
thoughts.
He had said truly; | had been a
father to him. / was old enough to
be hers, and no one should know my
silly dream. l would hide it while
lived. AS | once said: "I'ye only
the old folks and the children now,"
] said then, 81 will only think of
mother and Ashton. Let my own
life be as nothing 1 haye lived for
them7-if needs be, L will die for
,then-',
But would not see or speak to
Olive that night, nor till the next
day was quite done. Then, in the
twilight, L sat beside her. and took
her hand in mine.
"Oive," l said, 81 think you know
that Ashton loves you. l am sure
he has told you so. And you-can
you not love him? ?"
She drew her hand from mine, and
said not word.
II should rejoice in my brothers
happiness. should think him han
pier in having you love than any
thing else could make him." | said.
II told him | would tell you So"
And then she spoke.
"You wish me to marry Ashton ?"
Reproach wasin the etone-reproach
and sorrow.
"Ifyou can love him, Oliye, ,"said I.
She arose. She seemed to shrink
from me, though in the dark l could
not see her face.
II do not love him." she said.
And we were still as death. Then
suddenly Olive Hunter began to sob.
"You have been very kind to me.
l love you ALL" she said, "but 1 can
not stay here now. Please let me go
somewhere else. l must-I cannot
live here"
$50 from us, Oliver ?" l said.
NAY. we are no tyrants ; and once
assured you do not love him, Ashton
will"
'tHushi" she paused; "hush; please
let me go away! Please let me go
away !"
The moon was rising. Her new
born light fell upon Olives face. Per-
haps its whiteness made her look so
pale.
She leaned against the wall with
her little hand upon her heart, her
unfathomable eyes full of pain. How
had hurt her so? A new thought
struck me.
perhaps you love some one else,
Olive ?"-
And at that she turned her face
from me and hid it in her hands.
"Too much-too much. You might
have spared me that" she said.
"Let me go away. 1 wish you had