The Irish standard., 1892-02-13
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those who remind them of their low be-
ginning"
Olive flushed deeply.
| "Aaron should not encourage such
| tancies," she said, land ! have often
heard our old vicar say that people are
! hard on the man who rises. They always
suspect him of looking down on old as
sociates; they take his pride for grant
ed. and never give him the benefit Of a
| doubt
II only hope that Aaron is mistaken, y
Jane replied, meekly. IL have always
admired Michael very much and wan,
10 believe in him for your sake"
Then do believe in him, dear" en-
treated Olive, land try to bring Aaron
into brighter mood. All, if we had
him here we would soon dispel his
doubts and fears! What gloomy crea~
ture a. man is when he is away from a
woman's influence"
Jane smiled. somewhat comforted
and the sweet evening wind kissed the
two faces, as it came blowing freshly
across the downs. The air seemed full
of the breath of wild flowers; there
were hope and peace and quiet glad
ness in this remote world of low hills
and green meadows and violets. The
girls fingered at the gate few mo-
;nents longer, and then went indoors to
their household work.
Next day Olive contrived to have u
talk with her mother, and ask her
questions about Uncle Wake and his
business. Put Mrs. Challoch had not
much to tell.
He was always a. !1ind-hearted man, .
she SAID, land good husband to my
poor sister. Your aunt Ruth died young
He loved her very nanch; I almost won"
der, that ne married again, and yet ]
ougl1tnt to wonder, seeing that mar
ried d second time, although I loved
your father dearly! We widows and
widowers allow ourselves to be talked
over, even when our hearts are buried
in the grave Of our first love. Yes, Mr..
Wake is a good man, Olive
'Has he any children?" Olive asked.
t'The second wife had one daughter.
He wrote and told me Of the birth. I
never heard Of any other children, %
Mrs, ChalloclS replied.
land do you really think, mother,
that he would let me live in his house II
earned my own breal?" Olive said,
earnestly. MAY write to him?''
'You may write" Mrs. Challock an:
swered, after pause. But I did not
want to part with you till you were
married, tell him that. And oh! Olive,
don't say much about your stepfather!
He might be a worse man than he is,
you know: but it troubles me sorely
that he doesn't take to you. I've been
an unfortunate woman, Olive--vary I'M
Fortunate"
Eyes mother; you were very nnfor-
tunate in losing my father" Olive said,
quietly.
Mrs. Challoc]x began to cry in a noise
less fashion. Row and then she paid
this tribute of silent tears to the de-
parted and blamed Providence, in her
spiritless way, Tor having removed him.
She always spoke Of herself as a won
an who had been badly used by the
powers above, and went SO far as to say
that an angelic gnard ought to have
been specially provided for defense.
less widow When her mother was in
this mood Olive WAS apt to betray a lit
Tie impa tience As Mrs. Challock dried
her tears she began to bewail her fate
in the usual strain, and the girl spoke
out at last:
There is Mrs. Hooper, mother" she
said, ''she was left widow, and she
has never married again, and yet she
was no batter defended than you
were
''Oh! Olive nloared Mrs. Challock,
shaking her head ".she was far better
defended than was. Not by angel
guards. perhaps, but by p plain face;
and a woman can have no safer protec-
ton than that.
Olive looked, half pityipgly, at the
sweet, faded face by her side, and felt
that there was some truth in those
words. She knew that she herself mad
possessed: Mrs Challock had often told
her so, but she thought, with a girls
happy confidence, that her defense was
sure and strong Michael's love for her
and her love for him--this would be her
shield and bnckler, She put her arm
round her mothers shoulders, and
spoke in a caressing tone:
Then you will let me write to Uncle
Wake?' she said. Don't fret, little
mother; Lucy says it will be best for
me to know something of London be-
fore go to live there as Michael's wife.
1t would be trying for him to have to
teach me everything"
''Your father never thought it trial
to teach me-" sighed Mrs. Challock, her
head still running on the past; "but
then he had wonderful patience. i only
wish | had learned more. Yes, Olive,
you may write, and see what comes OF
it,
But some time passed by before that
letter was written.
Poor James love troubles pressed SO
heavily on her mind that she fell i'll,
and Olive had to help in nursing; and
then Mrs Challock herself grew sick
and claimed her child's care. These
illnesses were not alarming, but they
changed Olives plans for awhile, and
the summer seemed to slip away una