Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1858-1859, 1858-09-11

twice as much as mine. Perhaps you had
better transfer your attentions to her, Mr..
Ainslee. The difference in our dowries would
no doubt be quite an inducement and posi-
bly, she might consider your case more seri-
ously than have DONE"
Like an insulted prince, Harry Ainsee
stood up before her-the hot, fiery, indignant
blood dashed in fierce torrent over his lace
his arms crossed tightly upon his breast as
if to keep his heart from bursting with uprls-
ing indignation-his compressed lips, and his
dark eyes flashing. Sophie, cruel Sophie -
You added one drop too much to your cruel
sarcasm. You trespassed upon his forbear-
ance one little step further than you would
have dared, had you known his proud sens-
tive mature.
Not till he had gone-gone without sim
gle word of eXpostulatiOn, leaving only a
grave ''good-by' and the memory of his pale
face to plead for him-did the thoughtless
girl wake to realization of what she had
done. Then quick, terrible fear shot through
her heart, and she would have given every
curl on her brown head to have had him be-
side her one short moment longer.
"Pshaw what am afraid of He will
be back again within twenty-four hours, and
as importunate as ever" she muttered to..her-
self. as the street door closed after him yet
a sigh that was half 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 wistful 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 ma
tured 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 a mar
tyr and acted accordingly. In fact, she did
as almost any heroine would have done under
the circumstances-grew pale and interesting.
Mariana began to suggest little delicaces
tempt, Sophie's palate. "The poor dear child
was getting so thin In vain Sophie protest
ed that she had no appetite.
In vain papa brought dainty gifts and piled
up costly dresses before his pet. A faint
smile or abstracted "thank you" was the on
ly recOmpeDse. If sister Kate suggested
that Harry'S absence was in any manner con-
nected with her altered demeanOr, Sophie
would toss her ringleted head with an air of
of supreme indifference, and go away and
cry over it hours at time. Everybody
thought something was the II after with So
phie 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 forever seemed every day more of
an impossibility.
into fbo
Kate ?" she asked, in trembling voice, of
her sister, one day about a month after her
trouble with Harry. 81 have something of
Importance to tell you"
go away, darling, and will be with you
in few moments" replied Kate, casting a
searching glance at Sophie's flushed checks
and swollen eyes.
Running swiftly along the garden paths,as
if from feai of pursuit, Sophie turned aside
in her favorite arbor,and, ,fingng herself down
on low seat, buried her head among the
cool vines, and gave herself mp to a paroxy-
um of passionate grief. Soon she heard steps
and an arm was twined tender
ly about her waist, and warm hand was
laid caressingly her dropping head.
40, Kate, Kate p she erie | in the agony
of her repentance, IL am perfectly wretched
You don't know why, though you have came
very near guessing two or three times. Har
ry and p
Here convulsive sob interrupted her,
and the hand upon her head passed over her
disOrlcred curls with gentle, soothing mo-
tiOn.
Harry and I''-another sob-"quarreled
two or three weeks ago. | was willful and
rude, just as it was natural for me to be, and
he got angry. l 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 pited her.
9 would not have owned it to anybody,
if it had not been just as it is, ''she continued,
rubbing her little white hands into her eyes
but | think l love him almost as | do you
and 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 hid
den in the vines.
He asked me to be his wife," she continu-
ed, "asked me as nobody else ever did, in such
a 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 be-
cause he was poor and Twas rich and all the
time | was thinking l would rather live in
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 Tell me, Kate you are much bet
ter than l am, and never get into trouble.
am sure shall die if you DON'T And poor
Sophie wept anew.
"Look p, dear, and I'll tell you."
Sophie did look up, with start, and the
next moment, with little scream, leaped in
to the arms-nOt of sister Kate, but Harry
Ainsee Sophie declares to this day she has
never forgiven either OF them, though she has
been Mrs. Ainsee nearly two years.