Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1884-11-05
From the Philadelphia CALI
SURPRISED.
BY S. B.

NAO Was eStA dno p4OuUJ, Will OoSp
hazel eyes, and heavy glossy braids
of dark brown hair, and her complexion
was like that of four-year- old child, as
she stood in the window, with the after
noon sunshine upon her face and form.
Mr. Enrol sat opposite, watching her
with quiet, observant eyes, in which
lurked shade of annoyance.
Are you in earnest, Oliver"
yes, quite in earnest, George"
~And for the sake of your cousin
Sarah Evelyn's children you are willing
to give up your future, our future,
Olive, as | may call it?"
George, you misinterpret me-" she
said, pleadingly. 81 love you as dearly
as ever did"
How can I credit your words, Olive,
when for the sake of two miserable
children, who are really nothing to you,
you are willing to overturn all our
bright visions of happy, mutual
home?"
They are orphans, George, and des-
titute"
"Then let them be sent to an orphan
asylum"
ooh, George" the color mounted rap
idly to Olive Merton's cheek, @you
surely would not have me deprive my
COUSINS little ones of the sweet infiu-
ence of home of their own-you would
never condemn them to the harsh, sun
less life of q charitable institution?"
chats all sentimental nonsense"
said MIR. Enrol, coldly. "The upshot
Of the matter is that you don't love me"
"George!"
Eyes" the embittered lover went on,
almost rudely; "fne words and fearful
looks are all very eloquent, I don't
doubt, but I prefer to judge by actions
only. It isn't particularly fattering to
me that you prefer these orphans to my
love-"
George, you know it is not that
but ought [ shrink from my manifest
duty?"
Just as you choose" he answered
~coldly; "but has it ever occurred to you
how you are to support these two
precious proteges of yours? I believe
you have no independent fortune CT
your own"
Olives eyes fell, and a troubled ex-
preston came over her face.
L must try to obtain a situation as
teacher" she said softly.
"That will be pleasant" remarked Mr..
Enrol, ironically.
MIR. Enrol rose.
~Since you have chosen your path, 7
know of nothing that is left me save to
bid you good-byp
"Good-by, George-try to think kind
~ of me-" she faltered, her little hand
trembling in his palm, as a frightene ed
bird futters sometimes beneath the
human grasp.
And SO they parted; these lovers
who, brief while ago, had been all in
all TO each other. And Olive Merton
dropped into a chair, burying her face
IN her hands, as soon as he was gone.
She had hoped, she had fancied, she
knew not what-perhaps that George
would approve her self-imposed duty,
and cheer her with his love in it's per-
Torrance; nay, it had even crossed her
mind, as a remote possibility, that he
might even take the poor little orphans
as well as herself to his heart.
Yet she checked herself even in
the thought. What right had she to
expect him to burden himself with
those cares and trials, simply because
they came to her as a charge which it
was impossible for her to put away?
No; is was folly, and worse than folly,
for her to sit brooding here when the
matter was fully and irrevocably de-
eided. The brief glimpse of sunshine
which had frightened her life in the
prospect of George Errol's love and
home of her own should shine no more
for her; there was no use in turning
away from the leaden-gray pathway
that stretched out before her girl foot
steps. There was one comfort; the
poor little orphans should never feel
the loss of a mothers love while she
lived to cherish and toll for them.
Duty is often bitter cup to drink;
but it seldom comes in so uninviting a
zuise as that now held to poor Olive
Merton's lips.
Miss Agatha Enrol, her former fance's