The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1883-03-21

Ell? But you don't know, Ned. Yo,
can't understand-you've been 8,
calm and cool all your life through
you know. She's driving me mad
Ned. / do believe she likes me, bu
she won't say yes. I'd give my righ
hand for her love. l must have it
and I think you can help me, Ned
From something she said, / believe
she thinks you would disapprove
perhaps you are one of those old fel
lows who want every one to marry
fo- money. Tell her you're not, Ned
dear, old fellow-tell her you have
no objection, and I'll never forget it
indeed, l won't"
"Tell her / have no objection ?"
repeated. mechanically.
"You know you are master here
and :as much my father as if you
were really one, instead of broth.
er," said Ashton. "If / did not know
how kindly you had always felt te
US both, / should not confide in you
for it is a 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 al
that time!
"Ill do what / can, Ashton"
said at last. .:'I1l try my best"
And he flung his arms about me
in his own boyish fashion and left
me alone-alone with my own
thoughts.
He had said truly, I 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've only the old folks and the
children now," l said then, II will
only think of mother and Ashton.
Let my own life be as nothing, !
have lived for them-if needs be, l
will die for them"
But I would not see or speak to
Olive that night, nor till the next
day was quite done. Then, in the
twilight, | sat down beside her and
took her hand.
solve" l said, 81 think you know
that Ashton loves you. / am sure
he has told you 80. And you-can
you not love him ?"
She drew her hand from mine and
said not one word.
II should rejoice in my brothers
happiness. / should think him hap
pier in having your love than any
thing else could make him." l said,
II told him l would tell you So"
And then she spoke.
"You wish me to marry Ash
ton?''
Reproach was in the tone-re-
proach and sorrow.
"If you can love him, Olive" l
said.
She arose. She seemed to shrink
from me, though in the dark l could
not see her face.
u do not love him, "she said.
And We were still a. death. Then
suddenly Olive Hunter began to
sob.
"You have been very kind to me.
/ love you all !" she said, "but l can
not stay here now. Please to let me
60 somewhere else. l must. l can
not live here"
$50 from us, Oliver" / said, "Nay,
We are not tyrants +; and once assur-
ed you do not love him, Ashton will
-"
"Hush !" she painted; "please let
me go awayl Please let me 60
away"
The moon was rising. Her new
born light fell upon Olives face.
Perhaps its whiteness made her look
pale.
She leaned against the wall with
her hand upon her heart, her un-
fathomable eyes full Of pain. How
had l 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" che
said. "Let me 90 away. l wish you
had never brought me here"
And / rose and went to her. |
bent over the woman loved. /
touched her with my hand. Her
soft hair brushed my cheek.
"Olive," l said, "if coming here
has brought pain upon you, | wish
l had not. l weuld have died to
make you happy"
And my voice trembled and my
hand shook, and she turned her face
toward me again and looked into my
eyes. What she saw in mine Il do
not know-the truth, l think. In
hers read this:
Twas not too old to her-not too
old to be loved.
/ stole my arm about her; she did
not untwine it. l uttered her name,
"Olive," huskily. Afterward l told
her Of my struggles with myself, not
then. l said;
solve, l love you; but it cannot
Be that you care for me. am old
enough to be your father"
And again I saw in her eyes the
happy truth, and took her to my
heart.
But We kept our secret for while,
for we both knew that his wound
was not too deep to find balm ;
and within a year, when the boy
brought home a bride, a pretty Great
ure whom he loved, and who loved
him, ! claimed Olive.
And she il mine now anddthe
autumn blossoms Of my heart will
only fade on each to bloom again
through all eternity in Paradise.
An Aeeravating Little Wretch.
Some Of our city stores are con-
stantly annoyed by children coming