The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1884-02-29

l
offices as these.
Olive was no beauty; but there was
something very winning in her frank,
open manner, her earnestness about
everything she undertook. And the
clear, healthful tinge of her brown
cheeks, and the intense velvety black
ness of her eyes were very pleasant to
look upon.
She worked patiently away at the il
Illuminated letter until dark; and when
at last it was finished, she put it in her
| portfolio and carried it down into the
second-class room, where Professor
Anderton sat reading by the light of a
student lamp.
"Well? he said, kindly.
II have been busy" said Olive. 81
could not come before. Here are my
drawings. Now ] want you, professor,
to tell me truly, if you think have any
chance of succeeding as an artist
Silently he turned over the sketches.
She sat and watched him with chang
ing color and intent eyes.
NO" he said at last.
She looked up with an exclamation
of pain.
"Have l hurt you, my poor Oliver"
said he "But you wanted me to be
frank. You have originality, taste,
power, but not enough of these to war
rant you in entering upon the lists of
the artist world. Stop! Is this illum-
mated letter yours-the letter 'G'?"
at is one that have been designing
for friend" said Olive, coloring lit
tie.
ut is very pretty. But.-pardon me
it does not look like an artists finish
ed work. Is my frankness too cruel :?
Am getting barbarous?'
"No," said Olive, 81 want you to
| tell me the truth"
He looked at her with pitying kind
ness. How strange it was that he had
never before noticed how bright and
spirited was her face --how softly bril-
liant her eyes!
"She is a jewel among women!" he
| cold 70 b;,,soJf utpJ ;t q, 7 fbot on,
doomed to cut her so cruelty to the
| heart! I feel like the viyisector, with
| the knife at the lambs white throat"
But as he turned over the drawings
mechanically, other designs fell out
the very ones that Octavia Weston had
at different times given him for birth
day and anniversary gifts-the beauti-
full drawings which Octayia had claim
ed as her own work.
care these all yours?" he asked,
abruptly.
"Yes," she answered. "Let me have
them now, Mr.. Anderton. Mrs.
Sedley needs me at six, to get the in
fant class ready for tea'
That evening Octavia Weston gave
her lover the illuminated letter G that
he had seen in Miss Dents portfolio.
sc is for Gerald" she said, archly.
"see what l have been doing for you"
Professor Anderton looked sharply at
her.
This is all yoatr work, Octavia ~ said
he, with curious sensation, as though
his faith in all the world was being un-
dermined.
"All mine," she answered, and pout-
ed little.
Professor Anderton observed her
gravely. OF late he had begun to
question himself, now and then, whether
blue eyes and rose-leaf cheeks could
meet all the needs of a mans existence.
And now that those full, scarlet lips
had deliberately uttered falsehood,
the pure spirit-love died out ut once,
almost without a pang.
Was it because he loved Olive Dent !?
Had one affection supplanted the other?
He scarcely dared ask himself the
question.
He was absent and silent all the even
ing. Octavia had never found him
so little entertaining; and when at last
he went away, she drew a long sigh of
relief.
"Now," she said to herself" l shall
have chance to talk little with
poor, dear Algernon! The professor
grows prosier every day, think"
And, winding her head in fleecy
shetland s,arf, Octavia Weston stole
down into the dewy garden, where a
handsome young man was yawning in
a summer-house, with only the crickets
and owls for company.
"Sweetest!' he cried, 81 thought you
nerer were coming"
"And so did r. said Octavia, laugh
ingly releasing herself from his clasp
81 thought that tiresome, old professor
never ,couid gor'
1t was nearly midnight before Octa-
via Weston crept into the little room
which she shared with Olive Dent
But. quiet though she was, Olive heard
her.
"Octayia." pleaded the elder GIRL sis