Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1892-01-01

close she wrote little note to Aaron
Fen1ahe and sent it to Battersby's
works. She asked why he had not been
to see her and told him that he would
End her at home any evening in the
week, Sundays excepted. On Sunday
she belonged exclusively to Michael,
and some instinct warned her that he
did not want to be intimate with Aaron.
Yet, submissive as she was in most
things, Olive felt that a tried friendship
had it's claims and that something was
due to Aaron Fen1ake. It panied her to
think that Michael did not acknowledge
that claim, and then she soothed herself
by fancying that he had shown his graf
itude and good feeling to Aaron in ways
unknown to her. But that was not
enough; she would be kind also, and
she must see Aaron for James sake.
She had posted her note on Monday,
and on Tuesday evening when she was
sitting alone in the room upstairs,
on the threshold, and Olive rose and
and a bright face.
"oh, I am glad to see you at last"
she cried in her sweet voice. "Why
AdNC JOu OCCh 81 AOHS III COLuIuRE
He looked at her in an odd, con-
strained way. 81 didn't know where
you were living" he said, bringing out
his words with a visible effort.
''You did not know? Then Michael
must have forgotten to give you my
messages"
did you really send messages to me?"
he asked eagerly.
Indeed did," she answered, ''and 1
have been thinking you quite unkind."
He looked at her again very search
ingly, as she stood illuminated in the
evening light that touched her brown
hair with gold. She was wonderfully
pretty-prettier than he had ever seen
her yet; it was as if she had suddenly
bloomed into fresh sweetness and
brightness. Her altered style of dress
had something to do with her new as
pect; but Aaron, being a man, could
not be expected to understand this. He
did full justice to her beauty, but he
took no pleasure in it. And yet when
she spoke again and drew him gently
to seat by the open window, he was
touched by the tender gentleness of the
face. There was a look of humility in
the liquid eyes that softened him.
II never received any message he
said, still gazing at her. 81 should
have come sooner if had. l thought
you wished to forget old tines
Olive looked up suddenly. why did
you think that?" she asked in a tremu-
lous tone.
well, can hardly say" He looked
down awkwardly. But perhaps it
won't do any harm to tell you that it
was Michael's fault" he added, deep
flush mounting to his forehead. "He
treats old friends as if they were dust.
He gives himself airs, and walks past
me as if were a gate-post. Take
heed, Olive; a man who forgets his
friend may be faithless to his sweet
heart"
you must not say such things said
Olive, flushing in her turn. Michael
is preoccupied-that's all. I am very
sorry that he sighted you, Aaron, but it
must be unintentional. He is absorbed
in his own concerns. He is clever, you
know, and his brain is always at work"
Eyes, yes; his brain is always at
work; / know that well enough. And
it's all for self that he works-mark
that, Olive. He means to get on, and
he will get on; and he doesn't care who
falls as long as he can rise"
Olive sighed, then looked up again.
81 don't know how to talk to you," she
said. You had a better opinion of him
in days gone by"
81 didn't know all that was in him in
days gone by" answered Aaron, lifting
his gloomy eyes to hers. Hes a Jug
gernaut, Olive-that's what he is.
Don't let him crush you under his
wheels. AS for me, it doesn't matter
much. I'm only poor fellow at my
best
81 am not afraid for myself. He is
always good to me-" she said, with a
little fash of womanly indignation.
my only concern is for you, Aaron.
You are out of health and out of spirits.
hope you haven't forgotten Jane
Forgotten herr The red flush
+nounted to his forehead again. ''Is