St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-04-17
HER GOTH BIRTHDAY,


Olivia Martin was a brunette of medium
size; not what we generally call hand
some, but she had an exqulsitely shaped
mouth and pair Of velvet eyes from which
darted forth spirit of benevolence and
feelng-a tenderness which indicated that
there was a soul beneath those pensiye orbs.
Olivia had been raised in affluence and had
never known what it was to want. Early
IN life she lost her mother, but kind and
indulgent father devoted all his love and
care upon Olivia and her infant brother
Moving in the best circles, with all that
wealth could obtain in the way of comforts,
Olivia was not a spoiled and pampered
child, but possessedta charitable heart, and
many were the blessings conferred on the
poor and needy through her delicate minis
taations.
But in an evil hour her father rashly
specialized away the bulk of his fortune
de did not long survive the calamity. Now
we find her in her Goth Year a saleswoman
IN one OF the leading dry good stores, nObly
ana heroically striving TO support herself
and her little brother. The butterflies and
moths that had fiuttered in the light Of her
former splendid home were profuse in their
sympathy when she became an orphan, but
on ascertaining the extremeties to which
she was reduced their friendship suddenly
ceased.
But Olivia was not the girl to sink under
the difficulties of her surroundings. Know
ing that she must leave the home in which
she had been reared. she sought a suitable
boarding place for herself and brother and
obtained employment at the store in which
we hnd her. 1t was now her Goth birthday,
alas! so different from those she had known
before. No friends now called to congratu-
late her; no presents gladdened her heart.
On this day she went TO her vacations as
usual, but she could not help contrasting it
with her former happy days, and it was
with great effort that she could repress her
tears. But wiping them away she went
about the performance of her duties as
though her former birthdays were things of
the past.
Scarcely an hour elapsed when two fash
ionably attired ladies entered the store. and
on being shown to 0livia's department they
eoolly nodded recognition, for they were of
Olivia's former acquaintance. One of
them selected pair of gloves, and just as
they were leaving she remarked, in a man
ner evidently intended for Olivia's ears,
that Edward Harding was TO attend the re-
ception that evening to which they were
going. Olivia strove hard to conceal the
Dang which these words excited, but no
look OF hers betrayed any emotion 10 the
eyes that were riveted upon her.
After the ladies passed nut she thought
OF Edward Harding. who had been one of
her best friends, and for whom she always
had the greatest esteem. He had always
been attentive to her, and on her birthdays
had sent her the lOvliest of flowers.
Edward had been travelling on the contin-
ent and had but recently returned. On ac-
count Of his wealth and position he was
eagerly sought after. But Olivia could not
tnlnk OF him as OF her other acquaintance.
She believed him to be the soul of honor.
Yet why should he think of her now?
She tried to dismiss him from her
thoughts. Three years had ELAPSED since
she had last seen Edward, and he had prom
ised when he went away that he would
call upon her among the first of his acouaint-
ances. Did he remember his promise? He
was then very young. and there was no OBJ
legation 10 bind him to remember her. Yet
Olivia could not help thinking of the little
attentions he had lavished upon her, which
at one time had made a deep impression
upon her, and she wondered If he could
have forgotten her and his promise.
On the following day Olivia went again
TO her daily toll. In about an hour a gen
tleman entered and inquired for Miss Mar
tin, and being shown to her department she
instantly recognized her old friend Edward
Harding. AS good fortune would have ii
no one was present to interrupt their con-
versation. Edward told Olivia that he had
not forgotten his promise; that he had
called at her former home, was told that
she had left. but on inquiry had been un-
able to ascertain her whereabouts; that on
the previous evening he had attended a re-
ception and had heard her name mentioned
among some OF the ladies. and heard one of
them remark that she had seen her that
very day in the store. Edward then told
Olivia how she had been constantly in his
thoughts while abroad, but that he had
never realized the extent of his love until
he had left. He asked her If she cared
enough for him to share his home and leave
her present surroundings.
Olivia with fearful eyes acknowledged
that his love was her greatest treasure, and
that she would devote her life to his happi-
ness. That same day, at Edwards urgent
request, she left her employment, and
month afterward she entered new home
as the wife of Edward Harding.