The Irish standard., 1892-02-27
9HRAHDoUpNEY
N lsxpsx SsxmM<Azue.

OCl2eve tntt nc nlQ changed 10 JANE.
Men of his stamp do not change, but
they sometimes despair. Aaron might
lose his hope but he would never forget
ais love.
One day when June was drawing to q
close she wrote a little note to Aaron
Fenlake and sent it to Battersby's
works. She asked why he had not been
to see her and told him that he would
and 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 tried friendship
had its claims and that something was
due to Aaron Fenlale. It panied her te
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. Rut 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 she room upstairs.
Aaron came in. He paused awkwardly
on the threshold, and Olive rose and
went to him with an o1tstretched hand
and bright face.
ooh, am glad to see you at last"
she cried in her sweet voice. "Why
have you been SO long in coming?"
He looked at her in an odd, con-
strained way. II didn't know where
you were living" he said, bringing out
his words with a visible effort.
'sYou did not know? Then Michael
must have forgotten to give you my
messages"
"Did youreally send messages to me?'
he asked eagerly.
''lndeed I did, she answered, land
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
bloomcd into fresh sweetness and
brightness. Her altered style of dress
had some thing to do with her new as
pect; but Aaron, being 81 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 II should
have come sooner if had. thought
you wished SC forget old times"
Olive looked up suddenly. 'Why did
you think that?" she asked in a tremu.
lous tone.
s'Wen, can hardly say" He looked
down awlswardly. ''But perhaps il
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.
lie gives himself airs, and walks past
me as if were a gate-post. Take
heed, Olive; 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. am very
sorry that he sighted you. Aaron, but 1t
must be unintentional. He is absorbed
II 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 we'll 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.
II don't know how to talk to you" she
said 'sYou had better opinion of him
in days gone by"
days gone BY" answered Aaron, lifting
his gloomy eyes to hers. ''He's Jug
ge1naut, 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 a poor fellow at my
best"
81 am not afraid for myself. He is
always good to me- she said, with a
little flash of womanly Indignation.
MY only concern is for you, Aaron.
You are out of health and out Of spirits.
I hope you haven't forgotten Jane"
Forgotten her'' The red flush
mounted to his forehead again. sis
that likely? I'm not one OF the for
getful sort. Only daren't think Of her
too much, because there are thoughts
that drive a man wild. When I'm
lonesome in my room at night her dear
face comes before me and makes my
heart ache with 4 bitter, gnawing pain. !"
ooh, Aaron! what do you mean?"
cried Olive in distress. ''Jane would
not pain nyone-you least of all! Why
can't you two be happy together?"
Happiness is for other people who
have got BRAINS" said Aaron, bitterly.
They've lowered my wages. Olive.
and they've. taken away my hope Of
making home for Jane. You'd have
thought, perhaps, that Michael. who's
so much with Mr. Edward, would have
said a word in nv favor But If he did