The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1892-03-09


olive saw her greeted by sturdy
artisan who took the baby into his
pwn keeping. Then she, too, got out,
last of all, and stood disconsolately on
The platform, ready to burst into tears.
SOLVE" said well-known voice.
He was close to her and yet she had
not seen his approach. Trembling,
timid, happy beyond expression, she
laid her hand on his arm in mute well
come, and lifted her sweet face to his.
But he gave her no answering glance;
with hesitation that lasted perhaps
half second, he touched her forehead
lightly with his lips; and Olive felt that
she had made her first mistake In show
ing, too openly, her delight at seeing
him.
81 was little late" he said, rather
stifiy. Sand now I must look after
your box. Stand here, Olive, ana will
come back to you in minute"
He went, and she stood motionless as
statue, chilled to the very soul. A
hopeless feeling of inferiority possessed
her; a feeling that was new and strange
and agonizing. He was SO well dressed
and fine, and she was such q poor inn
pulsive little rustic, that it seemed inn
possible for her ever to be lifted to the
height that he had gained.
A woman who is crushed does not
generally look her best, and Olives de-
preston told upon her beauty. When
Michael had claimed the box he came
back to his sweetheart, and it struck
him that the forlorn girl, standing droop-
ing on the platform, was not as pretty
as the Olive he had left at Eastmeon a
year ago. Her face looked worn and
tagged; her eyes large and weary; and
there was tremulousness about her
lips which would have touched tender
heart. But man who is steadily de-
voted to self-interest is seldom tender.
Michael had a great deal to think of, he
was rising rapidly in the world, and he
did not want his betrothed to be clog
to him. And there was something in
her shabbiness and Iorlornness that ir-
ritated him instead of awakening q
spirit of sympathy and protection. If
you have to climb, you cannot spend
time and strength in sympathising and
protecting. He hoped that Olive was
not going to be helpless, and he was
ashamed of the countrifed bonnet and
scanty gown.
"Come and get into a cab" he said,
briskly. "The Wakes will give you
something to eat; l dare say you are
hungry and tired; and yet it wasn't a
long journey. You are not growing
delicate, hope, Oliver"
Fancy a rising man hampered with a
sickly wife! The very idea was intol-
erable. But Olives answer reassured
| him; she had taken her first lesson in
the art of self-control, and she now
spoke calmly:
mo, Michael. Ihave not had days
illness since you saw me last"
"That's right" he said, in tone of
relief, as he helped her to seat herself
in the cab and took his place by her
side.
A hundred times she had pictured this
first drive with him through the un-
known streets Of London. Always it
had been strange and bewildering, yet
bright with the sunshine Of wonder
full happiness. But now the time had
really come, with all the strangeness
and all the bewilderment; but the hap
piness-why was that wanting? Was
this carefully-dressed young man in
deed Michael2 And this tired girl sit
ting silently by his side, could she be
the sunny confident Olive of old times7
Surely no.
Poor Olive had, until now, seen her
self under only one aspect. She had
not realized that it is the lot of most
people TO behold good many different
selves before they have done with this
life Of changes, and she was startled, as
tho young always are, at the unfamil-
lar being she saw. II she could have
shaken off this stupid detected mood
all might have been well, she thought.
And presently it occurred to Michael
TO become affectionate, and he took her
hand, cased in worn thread glove, into
| his own.
1--WE ought to be very glad that we
are together again" he said. London
confuses you at first, but you will soon
get used to this noise and hustle and