Year: 1876

Olive with her gentle womanly ways, leading
a contented life here, secluded from all the
hustle and jar of the outdoor world. While
I was trying to picture her to myself moving
about this cosy parlor, perhaps tending the
flowers, or ministering to the bird, the door
opened and she came in.


The same Olive, and yet not the same! 1
saw that at glance. Added years, added
grace, sat upon her brow, and spoke in her
movements, in the tone Of her silvery voice,
as she uttered a friendly greeting. But that
was not all the chaDge-there was certain
reserve, withholding of the frank confidence
which she had formerly given, and withal a
sort of timidity in her manner, as though she
did not feel at ease in my presence 1t panied
me yet I supposed it must be attributed to
the length of time which had elapsed since
we had seen each other last She called me
cousin Phillip. 1t seemed halfformal, yet
liked it, too for it was the reminder of tie
in some sort between US. Her color came and
went when she spoke, and she glanced at me
with a curious wistfulness once or twice. l
could not make out from her manner whether
she was pleased to see me or not. .


"Rudolph tells me" I said, "that we are to
have the great pleasure of welcoming you to
Lyndon Park next month"


EYES," she answered; miss Storr has been
kind enough to promise to Co."


"It will seem like old times to have you
there again."


She smiled little, and then sighed.


ut will be different from what it was in the
old time," she answered, in low tone. II
used to have very happy days at Lyndon"


"And will have many more, trust" re-
joined. A sudden impulse prompted me to
say the words, but was not prepared for the
burning blush which overspread her face as
uttered them. She arose hastily, and said if
I would excuse her for an instant, she would
let Miss Storr know that I was there: She
thought, perhaps, she might not have under
stood the servant who carried in my name.
I wondered at her agitation, so involu9tsrily
betrayed, and my thoughts instantly reverted
to the possibility of some secret understanding
existing between my brother and herself: |
say secret, because of such an understanding
he had said no word to me yet. A fierce,
jealous feeling arose within me, at the idea.
I was resolved that he should not win her if l
could, by any means, prevent it. My mind
was still in a tumult when she reappeared,
bringing with her an elderly lady, to whom
she presented me with her wonted composure
of manner, all traces of her brief embarrass-
ment having vanished. During the remain
der of my visit she was quite selfpossessed,
and, fancied little distant. Altogether I
did not feel happy in her presence, and yet I
was most reluctant to leave. Miss Storr,
hearing that I proposed remaining couple
of days in Bath, pressed me, as my brother
had foretold she would, to take up my abode
under her roof, and I Immediately accepted
her invitation. As I did so, I glanced at
Olive, but could not discover, from the ex-
preston of her countenance, whether she was
pleased at my compliance or not


What days those were that spent in her
society! Days of unrest, of uncertainty, OF
flashes ofjoy and hope alternated by fits Of
dependency, of eager longing and bashfal
fear. I was infinitely perplexed to know in
what light she regarded me. I tried in vain
to fathom her feelings, but they were to me as
sealed book. Courteous and kind as ever,
there was still an evident constraint in her
manner. Was it from bashfulness or disdain
I did not remember her as being shy. Proud
she ever was; but why should her pride
manifest itself in coldness to me? Could it
be that she disliked me-that my company
was unwelcome to her? If so, 1 vowed in
wardly, I would conquer that dislike. In
those two days my resolution became fxed-I
would win Olive for my bride, or else leave
England again, never to return.


On the third day took leave Of fher and of
Miss Storr, and returned home thoughtful
and uneasy, but filled with anxious anticipa-
tions of their promised visit in the following
month.


ITO be Continued