Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1857-10-24

Ing hS laugh anu uIoChIuS gesture, |
danced across the room to the piano.
She seated herself, AID ran her fin
gers gracefully over the white keys, and
broke out in will, brilliant and de-
6ant song, that made her listner's cars
Jingle as he stood watching her, and
choking back the indignant words that
came crowding forward to his lips for
utterance.
"Sophic, listen to men' he said at
length, IS she paused from sheer ex-
haustation. SIS it gcnerous--is just,
tc tritie with NC so! to turn into ridi-
2u!e the emotions Of a heart that offers
.;tu its most reyerent affections? |
have loved you, because under this vol
atilc surface-chalactcr of yours, l
, thought saw truthfulncss and simple
i.v, purity Of soul, and warm current
i tender, womanly feeling, that would
oathe with blessings the whole life of
him whose hand was fortunate enough
to touch its secret springs. You are
an hoircss and am only poor stu
lent f.; butt that Is the reason why you
;seat my suit so scornfully, you are less
than the noble woman that | thought
vcu."
Sophic's head was averted, and a
suspicious moisture, glistenei in her
eyes as Harry ceased speaking. All.
why is it that we sometimes hold our
highest happiness SO notwithstanding
it in our hands as though it were but
dross, and stalking it all upon an idle
caprice?
When she turned her countonance to-
wards him again, tho same hooking
light was in her eyes, the same coquet-
fish smiles wrcathed her red lips.
"Speaking Of heiresses,'' said So
phie, '',here is Helen Myrtle, whose
father is worth twice as much as mine.
Perhaps you had better transfer your
attentions to her, Mr.. Aisnlie. The
difference in our dowries would no doubt
be quite an inducem mt, and possibly
she might consider your case more Sc
riously than l have done.''
/ Like an insulted prince, Harry Aims
lie stood up before her-the hot, fiery,
indignant blood flashing in fierce tor
rent over his face-his arms crossed
tightly upon his breast, as if to keep
J his heart from bursting with its upris-
ing indignation-Sophie, cruel Sophie,
You added one drop too much to your
cup Of sarcasm. You trespassed upon
, his forbearance one little step further
than you would have dared had you
known his proud, sensitive nature.
Not till he was gone-gone without
7 a single word of expostulation, leaving
only a grave 'good-b bye and the mem
, oy of his pale face to plead for him
did the thoughtless girl wake to real
: ization of what she had done. Then ;
Y quick, terrible fear shot through he1
t heart, and she would have given ever,
: brown curl on her head to have had hin
beside her one short moment longer.
''Fshaw! what am | afraid Of! III
r will be back again within twenty fou
hours, as importunate as ever" sh
4 muttcred to herself, as the street doc
closed after him: yet sigh that was
G half sob, followed the words, and coul,
!, Harry have seen the beautiful pair O
a eyes that watched him so eagerly as h
e went down the long street. or the brigh
+ face that leaned away out through til
e parted blinds, with such wistful look
> after he had disappeared, it might hav
Q been his turn to triumph.
. In spite Of Sophie's prophecy, TWEEN
ty-four hours did not bring back Harry
Days matured into weeks, and still h
| did not come, nor in all that time di
, she see him. And now she began t.
r think herself quite martyr, and to &C
accordingly. In fact, she did almos
s as any heroine would have done unde
e the circumstances-grew pale and in
g teresting. Mamma began to sugges
e delicacles to tempt Sophic's palate
'the poor dear child was getting s.
| thin" In vain Sophie protested sh
s had no appetite. In vain papa brough
D dainty gifts and piled up costly dresse
9 before his pet. A faint smile or pro
| tracted "thank you," was his only re
E, compense. It sister Kate suggested
q that Harry's absence was in any man
i ner connected with her altered demeanor
= Sophie would toss her ringlety hea'
with an air Of supreme indifference, ant
y go away and cry over it, hours at a time
f Everybody thought something was tn
matter Of Sophie, Sophie amongst tn
t rest.
t Her suspense and penitcnce became
> lnsupportable ut last. Sister Kate, wht
l had come SO near the true solution O
> the mystery, should know also sale
: Sophie. Perhaps she could advise hcl
what to do, for to give Harry up for.
> ever seemed every day more and more
Of an impossibility.
"Wi.l you come into tho garden
with me, Kate :" she asked in trem-
bling voice Of ner sister one day, about
; q month, after her trouble with Harry.
Il have something Of Importance to
tell you"
i " 60 away. darling, and ! will be
with you in few moments" replied
Kate, casting searching glance at
sorhie's flushed checks and swollen
eCes.
Running swiftly along the garden
! paths. as if from fear Of pursuit, So
PHO turned aside into her favorite ar
Dor, and finging herself down on the
low seat, buried her head among the
cool, green vines, and gave herself up
to q paroxysm Of passionate grief
Soon she heard steps apr oaching, and
then pair Of arms were twined ten
derby around her waist. and warm