Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1858-07-28

touch ITS secret springs. You are an heiress
and l only poor student but if that is the
reason why you treat my suit so scornfully,
you are less the noble woman than l thought
Yoa."
SoPhie's head was averted, and suspicious
moisture glistened in her eyes as Harry ceased
speaking. All why is it that we sometimes
hold our highest happiness so lightly-carrying
it carelessly in our hands, as though it were
but dross, stalking it all upon an idle caprice
When she turned her eOuntenanee towards
him again, the same mOcking light was in her
eyes, the same coquetiish smile breathed from
her red lips.
Speaking of heiresses, said Sophie, ''there's
Helen Myrtle, whose father is worth twice as
much as mine Perhaps you had better trans
fer your attentions to her, Mr.. Ainslee Tie
difference in our dowries would nc doubt be
quite an inducemenf, and possibly she might
consider your case more seriously than I have
done"
Like an insuIted prince, Harry Ainslee stood
up before her-the hot, fiery, indignant blood
dashed in fierce torrent over hIs face-his
arms crossed tightly upon his breast as if to
keep his heart from bursting with uprising in-
dign4tion-his compressed lips, and his dark
eyes flashing. Sophie, cruel Sophie You
added one drop too much to your cruel sarcasm
lou IIespdSseu upon us lOIDedfduce one little
step further than you would have dared, had
you known his proud and sensitive nature
Not till he had gone-gone without a single
word of expJstulatiOn, leaving only grave
'goOd-by" and the memory OF his pale face to
plead for him-did the thOnghtless girl wake to
realization of what she had done. Then a
quick, terrible fear shot through her heart, and
she would have given every curl on her brown
head to have had him beside her one short mo-
mem longer.
'Pshaw what am afraid of He will be
back again within twenty-fOur hours, and as
importunate as ever" she muttered to herself
as the street door closed after him; yet a sigh
that was half a sob followed the words, and
could Harry have seen the beautiful pair of
eyes that watched him so eagerly as he went
along the street, or the bright face that leaned
away out through the parted blinds, with such
wistiuI look, as he disappeared, it might have
been his turn TO triumph.
In spite of Sophie's prophecy, twenty four
hours did not bring back Harry. Days matured
into weeks, and still he did not come, nor in all
that time did she see him. And now she began
to think herself quite martyr, and acted ac-
cOrdingly. In fact, she did as almost any hero
inc would have done under the circumstances
grew pale and interesting. Mariana began to
suggest little delieacies 10 sempt Sophie's palate
{" The poor dear child was getting so thin
In vain Sophie protested that she had no appe-
tite
In vain papa brought dainty gifts and piled
up costly dresses before his pet A faint smile
or distracted 'thank YOU was the only recon-
pense- If sister Kate suggested that Harry's
absence was in any manner connected with her
altered demeanor, Sophie would toss her ring
leted head with an air of supreme indifference,
and go away and cry over it hours at 4 time
Everybody thought something was the matter
with Sophie. Sophie among the rest.
Her suspense and Penitence became insup-
portable at last. Sister Kate, who had come SO
near the true solution of the mystery, should
know all-so said Sophie Perhaps she could
advise her what to do, for to give Harry up for
ever seemed every day more and more of an i'm
possibility.
"Win you come into the garden with me,
Kate y she asked, in trembling voice, of her
sister, one day about month after her trouble
with Harry. a have something Of Importance
to tell you
$50 away, darling, and will be with YOU
in few moments" replied Kate, casting a
searching glance at Sophie's flushed cheeks
and swollen eyes.
Running swiftly along the garden paths, as
if from fear of pursuit, Sophie tCrned aside
in her iaYOrite aTbor, and, finging herself down
on a low seat, buried her head among the cool
vines, and gave herself up to 4 paroxysm of
passionate grief Soon she heard steps ap-
preaching, and an arm was twined teuderly
about her waist, and warm hand was laid Ca
ressingly on her dropping head
40, Kate, Kate % she cried in the AGONY of
her repentance, Il am perfectly wretched Yon
don't know why, though you have come very
near guessing two or three times. Harry and
Here convulsive sob interrupted her, and
the hand upon her head passed over her disor-
dered curls with gentle, soothing motion
Harry and I"-anOther sob quarreled
two or three weeks ago. was wilifu and
rude, Just as it was natural for me to be, and he
got angry. don't think he is going to forgive,
for he hasn't been here since"
Sophie felt herself drawn in closer en-
brace, and was sure Kate pitied her.
al would not have owned it to anybody. if It
had not been Just as it is" she continued, rub
bing her little white hands into her eyes; but
l think love him almost as l do you aud father
and mother"
A kiss dropped on Sophie's glossy head, and
tighter was she held. She wondered that Kate
was so silent, but still kept her face hidden in
the vines
AAc dsAtu ne 70 be us Wler sue COuLiuueUf
Z" asked me as nobody else ever did-in such
manly way, that he made me feel as though l
ought to have been the one to plead instead of
him. =! could not bear that, and answered him
as | should not. He thought it was because he
was poor and l was rich and all the time
was thinking l would rather live in a cottage
with him than in the grandest palace in the
world with any other man, only was too proud
to tell him so TO his face. What can do I
Tell me, Kate; you are much better than
am, and never get into trouble. / am sure
shall die if you don't" And poor Sophie wept
anew.
" Look up, dear, and I'll tell you"
Sophie dil look up, with a start, and the next
moment, with little scream, leaped into the
arms-not Of sister Kate, but Harry Ainslee
Sophie declares to this day she has never
forgiven either of them, though she has been
Mrs. Ainslee nearly two years