The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1892-03-30
CHAPTER VIII.

of those momeuts when u poor
daughter of earth has caught glimpse
of that old garden where Gods first
pair of lovers rejoiced together. They
had talked little, but silence seemed
to suit them best. 1t was rare thing for
Michael Chase to bc silent; but there
were matters in his mind that he did not
care to discuss with his companion. He
had been kind-languidly kindperhaps
but Olive was well corAented. He had
spent some hours in her company with
out finding a single fault with anything
that she wore, or said, or did. She
could enjoy the bliss of sitting by his
side in peace. This she thought, was
the sort of happiness that she had al
ways waited and lonSed for. Flowers,
the soft shade of trees, summer sun
light, and the presence of the man who
was the sole king of her heart. What
more could woman desire? But she
did not give voice to her joy. If you
talk about happiness n is too apt to de-
sert you. 1t is an unrstful spirit, who
always hovers over us with wings out
spread, ready for an instant fight.
Some one passing by the couple under
the larches said to himself that the man
was not half worthy of the girl. Her
face, with its rich, sunlit loveliness, had
haunted Seaward AylstoDe for many
day; and now he came upon 1t una
wares, glowing out of the soft gloom Of
the trees. lie had come down to Kew
to study certain effects of light and
shade, and then almost forgot the pur-
pose that had brought him there.
Yes; 1t was the same face that he had
seen bending over the flowers in the
Regent street shop, and it had seemed
to him that one of his vague dreams
of beauty had suddenly taken shape
and become reality. But this was the
first time he had ever seen her out of
the shop and its Surroundings, and all
her charms seemed doubled and trebled
to-day. Her lips, scarlet as japonica
blossoms, were parted in an pncon-
scious smile. Hitherto he had only be-
held her grave; now she was quietly,
yet girlishly gay. Until this moment
he had not realized how young she was,
nor how new the world appeared to
her That fresh delight, that un-
troubled belief which only comes once
In lifetime, these glorious follies Of
youth, were hers still.
/ The young man by her side, short,
slightly made and blue-eyed, inspired
Seaward with sudden and unutterable
/ detestation. The young mans eyes had
a cunning and complacent twinkle in
them, and they were set too near to-
gether Yet he was what women call
"nice looking" and had fresh COM
plexion and fair, curly hair; and his
clothes were really very well made and
carefully-too carefully put on. II was
clear that he did not belong to AIRY
and his friends, and his face gave evil
dence Of sober and decorous living. But
instead of respecting him for his vir-
tnes, Seaward Aylstone only disliked
him the more for them. 1t was wrong,
it was unreasonable, but it was human.
There Is certain form of moral excel
lence which never fails TO be exasper-
ating.
The pair were quite unconscious of
his scrutiny; the young man was too
much self-absorbed 10 notice him, and
the girl was too happy to be observant.
He went his way, feeling unaccounta-
bly, soured, and left them still sitting in
their shady nook under the trees.
But II Seaward Aylstone had fingered
little longer in their neighborhood he
would have seen change in the lovely
face that had been SO bright with inno-
cent Joy. Olives cup was so full that it
brimmed over at last. Instead of pre-
serving that spell of blissful silence un-
broken, she was unwise enough to
/ speak.
Michael, is not this a perfect dayp
Is II possible for us ever TO be happier
than we are at this moment?"
The curl of his lip answered her even
before his words came. Her question
had broken in upon the great plans
that he was making for the future; and,
in truth, success was so near that he
had right to think of using it. 1t was
uO VAGUE NlSlOu JiluL oO ndu Dccu COu-
juring up, the goal was all but gained,
and already he was building, in fancy,
the palace in which he should take his
rest Rest The word had no real
meaning for him, the longings in his
heart could never be stilled. never be
satisfied by the attainment OF his first
desire. Poor Olives little speech
stirred up an angry scorn within him.
He had been striving with all his
might for grand things, and any Of the
commonest pleasures in life were good
enough for her
II am not quite such q fool" he said,
"as to mistake lazy hour in the sun
shine for perfect happiness II this was
Che best moment that life could give
me ! should not care to go on living.
Olive, You have no aspirations. You do
not want to rise, you do not sympa-
thize with me in my effort to succeed.
1t lis disappointing, very disappointing
to find that you are just as common
place and unambitious as you used to
be at Eastmeon."
For an instant she did not reply.
There were the same velvet glades, the
same rich foliage, the same blaze of
fame-colored blossoms before her
eyes, but the glory OF the gardens was
gone. The gates Of her Eden had closed
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