Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1896-12-23

said she was making me lazy, when she
brought my cloak and carried it to its
place, and arranged my slippers and
dressing.gown SO dains:ly by my chair,
bringing with her own hands my
chocolate, though there were servants
in plenty TO do these things.
:.Let her s,one, mother" / would
say. solve is as woll pleased to do it
as I nm to receive it-anl what is
done for love is 80 much sweeter to
Inc than when it is bought and paid
ior."
'I thought was being paid" said
Olive, meekly. Somehow it cid not
often occrr to me that we were her
benefactors. Her bene6cent presence
in our house seemed like an actual gilt
TO us, and SO 1t was; gift from
heaven to cheer the lonely old Thorn
field house, making light ard music
and beauty fill its rooms.
Meantime l became fieroelY jealous
of young Tom Effingham. who actually
made love to Olive, though the little
| innocent did not know it until Tom
had the insolence to ask me to sane
ton it. / was thunderstrucE, for he
was handsome boy Il called everyone
boy that hnd not arrived at twenty
five years., and possessed good for
tune. What right had [ then to re-
fuse my wards affections TO one whose
advantages and really good qualities
made him fitting match for any one
of the daughters OF our most aristo-
cratic families? Yet who can describe
the pain of thus giving away to an
other being who seems exclusively
your own?
/ could not speak of IL to her yet
but my mothers quick eye sow that
there was something the matter with
me, md she wornsed out the secret, as
only a woman knows how. I thong bit
she looked disappointed; but soon she
began to talk to me about Jennie Ef.
fingham, Toms sister.
81 wonder you never proposed to
her, Eustace. She is good girl, and
physicians ought to have wives. Not, !"
she added, "that you should ever go
from this house to live, and then, if
1om should marry Olive, We can all
live together"
/ sat in scrt OF silent rage 70 hear
my own dear mother plotting in this
way.
aJennie EGingham be hanged, and
her brother with her I" ] Numbered
out, at length.
There was merry twinkle in my
mothers eye as she begged me not to
consign my friends to such a dismal
fate. III did not choose to marry, /
need not hinder Tom Efflnghan. Had
l told Olive?
"No," ] said, shortly.
"Well, ahe ought to know, Eustace.
Shall / tell her 2"
j 1t was n{swelcoule offer, for truth to
fsell, could not ask her to be the wife
of another But my mother cbeesss :,
/ time when slsa knew 1 was in tho
library and could hear all she said.
When sheitoId her, Olive uttered q
cry that went to my heart. She had
Just cone down stairs, and did rot
know l was within hearing. My
mother set forth all the advantages of
the match advantages which / could
not gainsay. but of which the emu
meration pierced me to the soul.
A long pause ensued. "Does Eustace
know this?" she asked. My mother
told her how it came about, and said,
what was quite true, that did not
like to mention it to her. She added
what was not quite true, that l thought
it good match.
Olive did not speak again and soon
left tho room, and went out, return
ing quite late. I found the room
deserted. My mother now went often
to bed before came, but had always
left Olive to wait for me, and she had
wonderfully improved those lonely
hours by reading and study. The
lights were turned down, and no sound
was to be head; but rs I came near
the fire I caught a glimpse of some one
| kneeling by chair.
"ls that you, Ollyef
A smoihered sob WAS the only an.
swer. knelt down beside her and
cruelty asked her why she was weep
ing.
'.Has Tom Effingham been hereP"
asked, with savage yoico. She softly
answered that he had.
"Then these tears are his, I sup
pose?"
"They are, indeed" cool-was il
notp
started up in agony Of soul, that ]
would not have confessed to my best
friend.
"olivel am going away to-mor
row."
She tried to speak, bnt could not.
al have had an offer to-day to go &c
Europe on business. / was to decide
tomorrow. / have decided"
This was literally true.
She rose and tottered to the chsil
where / sat.
"Going away. Eustacel To leave
us alone?"
"Certainly. My mother can bea,
it, and Mr.. Efingham, for whom yor
are weeping, can console you"
"Oh, Eustace," this is cruel. 1t ii
not like you."
She had crept close to my arms and
laid her head on my shoulder. 1t melt
ed my savage mood-this sisterly ten
derness.
"Never speakthat name to me again
Eustace."
"Never speak it2 What, when you
said yourself"
"I said, or should have said.. if yor
had not been so passionate. that
pitied Mr.. Effingham, because ht
seemed 30 miserable"
A thrill ran through my heart. Only
pitiedl :,
"rhen you do not love him, Oliver
ooh. no I tried to lovo him, be