The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1892-05-04

chapel on Sundays. They always
talked to each other in friendly fash
ion; yet on her side there was little
reserve, on his great deal Of defer
ence. Olive was not girl who wore
her heart upon her sleeve. 1t was a
very faithful heart, its deep wounds
were even now scarcely healed, and
she carried it securely locked up in her
own bosom. AS to Seaward, he had al
ways been rather grave young man,
who had chosen to live his own life
and work hard at his profession. But
| it had never been selfish life, and the
fame that he had won had not been
gained at the cost of better things.
Their talk about Lucy had brought
them nearer together than anything
else could have done. Her portrait
was hanging now on the wall of Olives
little room, and it's presence there gave
her sense of quiet companionship
All was quiet in Olives life now
thoughts, friendships, hopes, were all
of the most tranquil kind. The calm
that had first fallen on her spirit within
the chapel walls had never passed
away, the chaplain's voice still led
her forth beside the waters OF COM
fort" and day after day she proved that
it was:
"Better to have quiet grief than hurrying
delight;
Better the twilight of the dawn than the noon.
day burning bright"
One day Aaron Fenlake came to see
her again. He had found work to do,
but the wages were small, and he looked
sadly wan and wasted. There was no
need to tell her that Michael was mar
ried; she had seen the announcement
Of his marriage in the paper, and no
further tidings Of him had ever reached
her ears. But Aaron had watched OPP
poYtunitics, and had even hung about
old Mr.. Battersby's great house at
Hampstead to find out how things went
on
"Why are you anxious to lsnow?"
Olive asked. 81 think it is best to be in
ignorance. Let him alone; we have
nothing more to do with him, Aaron"
81 want to SEQ whether the wicked
will always flourish like the green bay
tree" he answered grimly. 81 am
waiting for the time when he will be
withered up, root and branch. Hasn't
he spoiled your life and mine?"
NO. she said; ''it is our own fault
if our lives are spoiled, not his. We are
fools, Aaron, il we will not build n new
house because the old palace is q ruin.
Are we to waste our time in sitting
among the fragments of shattered hopes
and mourning over thcm?"
"That is just what | am doing every
day replied Aaron.
"And that is Just what you must not
do Aaron, why can't you leave off
brooding over your wrongs? Is your
heart so full of hate that there is no room
for love in it?n
! He was silent, and she went on.
"iIave you forgotten Jane? I hear
that Robert Steel is expected home in
the spring. Aaron, the most faithful
heart cannot wait and trust for ever If
no sign is given"
His gloomy face flushed, and a sudden
light cleaned in his eyes. The little
shaft had sped home at last
Instead of waiting to see Michael
withered up root and branch-a thing
which never will come TO pass, hope
why not make sure of one good thing
/ while 1t may still be had? Why not 90
back to the old village and revive the
old love? wish, Aaron, that you could
get some work to do in the country"
81 have never thought Of trying" he
said, struck by the idea.
ut would be good for you to get out
of London. Promise me, Aaron, that
you will write to your old acquaintances
in Petersfield. There may be some-
thing for you to do"
II will think of it, Olive" he replied.
mo, don't think of lido IL. Some
how your thinking always ends in a
kind Of melancholy dreaming. Write to
Jane, and tell her that you want TO
come back TO the old shire"
He looked irresolute. She sprang up
and got pen, ink and paper.
There" she said, dipping the pen in
the ink, and putting it into his hand.
II will stand over you resolutely till
the letter is written"
And she laughed-a soft, merry laugh
that seemed to come ringing back from
the past.
He had never heard her laugh since
she had come 10 London, and the sound
recalled their early days as nothing else
had ever done. Once more he was
shy lad, roaming through old meadows