Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1891-12-28

face was calm, the pain at her heart
was sharper than ever. She would have
given anything that she possessed if
she could have truthfully contradicted
Jane. Hers was a nature in which
truth had taken such deep root that it
could never be up-torn. 1t was always
there, the strong consciousness Of right,
the sweet, stern. sense sof, justice and
faithfulness.
"Have you heard from.Aaron lately?"
she asked, after pause.
ST had a letter this morning." Jane
answered, still with the patient sadness
in her voice. SIT is a strange letter. It
makes me feel as if he were prisoner
in Doubling castle. You remember
reading to US about Giant Despair,
Olive? Well, it seems that the giant
has got poor Aaron into his power, and
I am afraid he will make an end Of
him"
Don't talk so, dear Jane" Olive put
her arm round the girls shoulders, and
spoke with quick sympathy. "Men have
their dark moods. and come out of
them"
"Aaron neverSwas' quite as other men
are," said Jane, sorrowfully. "He was
always more desponding than others
always believing himself an il-starred
creature. No one ever had such strong
influence over him as Michael had.
Michael could make him hopeful and
cheerful; he looked up to Michael as a
hero-you know it, Olive, and now"
Jane was quiet woman, and she
took her trouble in quiet fashions
Tears stole down her cheeks, but there
was no sob, no passionate cry Of dis
tress. Olive, weeping too, drew closer,
and comforted her as sister.
81 don't want to say anything hard
about Michael" said Jane. drying her
eyes, and returning Olives kiss. ''But
I wish, oh, how wish that he would be
as friendly with Aaron as he used to bel
Just a cheering word now and then, or
few minutes talk about old times,
would set Aaron up and lift him out of
himself. You know he has almost wor-
SHIPPED Michael all his life, and he
thought that when his old friend came
to Battersby's works he would be lone
ly and home-sick no more"
What could Olive say? She still kept
her arm round Jane, and puzzled her
brain to find comforting words.
"Dear Jane, Michael is always preoc.
cupied," she said at last. 81 wish II
were not so, but cannot change him
Perhaps, by and by, when he has WOE
all that he is striving for, he will have
thoughts to spare for old friends, and
will be his old self again"
But if he ever does become his ole
self again he will look round in vain fol
old friends" Jane answered. '"They
can't wait, you see, till he has time K
spare. But, Olive, am afraid tina
: Michael dislikes having Aaron neal
/ him. Only Aaron knows anything O
l Michael's early days, and men wht
, want to rise very high sometimes hat
r those who remind them of their low be
/ ginning"
= Olive flushed deeply.
=; Aaron should not encourage sucl
r fancies," she said, land I have ofte1
g heard our old vicar say that people ar
= hard on the man who rises. They alway
q suspect him of looking down on old az
I sociates; they take his pride for grant
t ed, and never give him the benefit of
# doubt"
}, 81 only hope that Aaron is mistaken,
l. Jane replied, meekly. 81 have alway
# admired Michaelve very much, and war
= to believe in hiln for your sake"