The Red Cloud chief., 1892-06-17

III SCARCELY NOTICED HIN.
lie yet. Do you know, child, I intend
that you shall create a sensation? You
will be q noted beauty n of these
days, II Won take care Of yourself and
do as I tell you."
A richer bloom rose 10 the soft cheek,
but the lips quivercd rs II with pain.
~ should hate notoricty," she said,
proudly.
"Nonsensel you won't hate anything
in your new lifc," he replied, kissing
her. 1T will be- o life Of charming
dresses and jewels; what capga woman
desire more?" .~i
''Oh, I shall want much more than
that" she answered, looking frankly
up ut him with clear eyes. siss
But he only laughed, and went his
way. .1ct
More days went md came, and he
did not come, but frequent notes made
amends for his absence. Olive went
about her daily business with the light
est Of hcfrts and the brightest Of faces.
Uncle Wake rcjoiced with her In her
10y, md Aunt Wake talked of nothing
but weddings and bridal array. Some
times when Olive looked back to the
Sunday afternoon in Kew Gardens, Il
seemed very dim nnd far distant. She
could hardly recognise hersalf In tho
girl who had sat under the larches and
had been SO passionately miserable that
day. ba
All, she would ask Michasl TO take
her to the gardens again when he had
time enough to spare. She must have
been in a foolish mood when thcy were
there last, or his headachA perhaps,
had mnde him ~.fractious. His letters
werc SO affectionnte and kind that her
doubts were all beginning to disappear.
He had been hardened, absorbed; every
nerve had been strained in his long
struggle, but now that the end was
gained there would be peace. Yes,
and leisure for thoughts of others and
good deeds and gentle words
The one cloud in her bright sky was
| Aaron. She had written to him once or
twice but there was no reply, and he
never fulfilled his promise OF coming to
sec her again. Janc was beginning to
despair, but Olive still wrote to her In
o cheerful strain, begging her not to
give up oil hope. Surely something
could DO done for Aaron by and by;
and II Michael still refused to come
to tho aid of his old friend Olive re-
solved to take the matter into her own
hands. In some way or other Aaron
should be helped out of the slough Of
despond.
She was so busy with. her own
thoughts and hopes that although Sea-
ward Aylstone came several times to
tho florists shop she scarcely noticed
him. IA In q dream she heard his calm
voice, ordering sprays Of ivory and
roses, and In O dream still she wove the
flowers and leaves together. She did
not know that his glance always turned
to the corner where she sat with her
pretty curly brown head bent ovcr her
work. She did not know that he lin.
gcred long at the counter IN tho vain
hope Of seeing her lift her eyes or Of
hearing her speak. AnothAr girl less
absolutely true Of hort would have OBJ
served his frequent comiugs pnd goings
and have drawn her own conclusions.
But Olive was under o potent spoil.
y Asotp NViCh bnC ulyb WCEc bulLTY
and still md London was cmptying
fast, Michael came 70 SEQ her again.
lie came, Us no had been won't to do, ON
a Sunday Afternoon and found Olive In
the parlor upstairs. At the sight Of
him the Wakes husband and wife, dis
creetly vanished. And thoy said TO
each other In confidence that they had
never seen him look so worn and
strange. Olive, too, was struck with
this ''strangencss" and met him with
an anxiety TINT shaded her 10y.
"Deay, you have worked too hard"
abe sold.
Yet ~ she looked. st him again she
saw that he had gained something by
tho loss Of his 1.eshsoolor; the pallor
gave Q new refinement to his faco. His
clothes, too, seemed to be worn in o
new and easier fashion. He moved less
stifiy and spoke more quietly.
II believe I should have broken down
entirely" he said, III II had not been
for the sea breezes. The Battcrsbys are
Mt South sea, and l have been running
down TO sec them"
"Thcn you IRE quite intimate with
them now, Michael? Arc they nice
people? Is Mrs, Bnttersby q good.
motherly woman? Are there any
d~aughtersp Oh, I am SO glad they are
going to be kind to u.s." cried poor
Olive In her simplicity.
An uneasy look fitted across Nichaols
face.