The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1883-03-24
URDAY, MARCH "a, 1888.

and OF how much he had spoken Of me,
and Of the lonely voyage, and the green
graves left behind, and /, who had
gone to meet child and found
woman, looking at her and feeling to-
ward her as | had never looked upon
nor felt TO any other.
Not to Elsie Hall. II was not the
boyiSh, love dream come again.
Analysing my emotion, found only
a great longing to protect and comfort
her-to guard her from every pain and
i'll, and l said to myself: "This is as a
father must feel to a daughter; can
be parent to George Hunters child,
in very truth" And | took her home
to the old house, andto my old mother.
! thought only of them; somehow !
never thought of Ashton.
Shall lever forget how she frightened
the sombrc rooms 2 How, rs her sadness
wore away, she sang to us in the twi-
light How strangely something which
made the return home, and the long
hours Of the evening, seem so much
brighter than they had ever been be.
fore, stole into my life. never went
to sleep in church now kept awake
to look at Olive Huntcr--to listen TO
her pure contralto, as she joined in the
singing. Sometimes caught her eye
her great unfathomable brown eye-for
she had habit Of looking at me. Was
she wondering how face could be so
stern and grim? | used to ask myself.
Ashton used to look at her also. He
had been away when she first came to
us, and when he returned she was a
grand surprise to him.
"Oh, how lovely she is - he had
said to me.
"She is very pretty" | replied.
Ashton laughed.
"May never be an old bachelor il
it brings me to calling such girl very
pretty " he said and felt conscious
that my cheek flushed, and felt angry
that he should nave spoken of me thus,
though had never cared before.
They liked each other very much
those two young things. They were
together a great deal. Aprctty picture
they made in the Venetian window in
the sunset. He a iair-haired, blue-eyed,
Saxon-looking youth; she so exquisitcly
dark and glowing.
Every one liked her. Even my old
clerk, Stephen Madly, used to say her
presence lit the Office more than dozen
lamps, the nearest approach to poeti.
cal speech of which old Stephen was
ever known to be guilty; and never
knew how much she was to me until
one evening. when, coming home earlier
than usual, saw in that Venetian win.
dow where Ashton and Olive had made
so many pleasant pictures for me, one
that never forgot-that never shall
forget as long as live.
She stood with her back to me. Ash
ton was kneeling at her feet. The
sound Of the opening door dissolved
the picture, but l had seen it, and !
stole away to hide The stab that it had
given me.
sat down in my own room, and hid
my face in my hands, and would have
been glad to hide it beneath my coffin.
lid. knew now that loved her, not
as an old man might love the woman
who ought to be his wife--better than
had loved Elsie Hall for il was not
boyish passion, but earnest, heartfelt
love.
in love arose and looked in the
mirror, and my broad .shouldered rehec-
tion flashed before my gaze.
The spring. time Of my life had flown,
and my summer had come and gone,
o,.I -, sl,..a \ Ia .f
loves bud and blossom.
knelt beside my bed, and prayed
that might not hate my brothcr-that
| might not even envy him. Histouch
upon my door startled me. He came
in with something in his manner not
usual to him, and sat down opposite
me. For a few moments we were
silent. Then he said, speaking rapidly
and blushing, like girl, "Ned, old
fellow, you-you saw me making a
fool Of myself just now, suppose?"
al saw you on your knees" | said.
"And thought me silly fellow, eha
But you don't know, Ned. Youca n't
understand-you've been so calm and
cool all your life through, you know
She is driving mad, Ned, do believe
she likes me, but she won't say yes. I'd
give my right hand for her love. I
must have it, and think you can help
me, Ned. From something she said, l
believe she thinks you would disap.
prove, perhaps you are one Of those
old fellows who want every one to
marry for money. Tell her you re not,
Ned, dear old fellow, tell her you have
no objection, and I'll never forget it,
indeed WON'T"
"Tell her have no objection ?" re-
peated mechanically.
"You know you are master here,
and as much my father as If you were
really one, instead Of brother" said
Ashton. "If / did not know how
kindly you had always felt to us both I
should not conhde In you, for II is a
serious thing to be in love, Ned, and
you may thank Heaven you know moth
ing Of it,"
Know nothing Of i'll All, il he could
have read my heart just then |
"I'll do what can, Ashton" said
at last. "l'll try my best"
And he flung his arms around me in
his own boyish fashion, and left me
alone alone 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. would hide it while | lived.
As I said once: "I'vc only the old
folks and the children now," l said
then, al will only think Of mother and
Ashton. Let my own life be as moth
ing; I have lived for them-if needs be,