Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-07-08

delicacies TO tempt Sophie's palate. "The
poor dear child was getting so thin.' In
vain Sophie protested that she had no APP
petite.
In vain papa brought dainty gifts and
piled up costly dress before his pet A faint
smile of distracted .'thank you," was the
only recompense. 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
supreme Indifference. and go away and cry
| over it. hours at a 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 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 impossibility.
"Will you come into the garden with me
Kate?" she asked, in trembling voice of her
sister one day, about month after her trou-
BILE with Harry, 81 have something of impor-
lance to tell you"
$50 away, darling, and will be with you
in a few moments replied Kate. casting a
searching glance at Sophie's flushed cheek
and swollen eyes.
Running swiftly along the garden paths, as
ii
into her favorite arbor, and finging herself
down on low seat, buried her head among
the cool vines. and gave herself up to a
paroxysm of passionate grief. Soon she
heard steps approaching. and an arm was
twisted tenderly about her waist, and a warm
hand was laid caressingly on her dropped
head.
80, Kate, Kater' she cried in the agony of
her repentance, 81 am perfectly wretched
You don't know why, though you have come
very near guessing two or three times. Harry
and p
Here a convulsive sob interrupted her. and
the hand upon her head passed over her
disordered curls with gentle soothing mo-
ton.
Harry and I''-another sob-"quarreled
two or three weeks ago. / was willful and
he got angry. 1 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.
Il would not have owned it to anybody if
it had not been just as it isl she continued,
rubbing her little white hands into her eyes;
"but think l. love him almost as | do you
and father and mother"
kiss dropped on Sophie's glossy head,
and tighter was she held. She wondered that
Kate was so silent, but still hept her face
hidden in the vines.
He asked me to be his wife," she continu-
ed, asked me as nobody else ever did-in
such manly way, that he made me feel as
though | 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 Twas
rich; and all the time | was thinking | would
rather live i'll a cottage with him than in the
grandest place 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 better than am, and you never get
into trouble. l am sure L shall die if you
don't" And poor Sophie wept anew.
Look up. dear, and I'll tell you"
Sophie did look up, with start, and the
next moment, with liale scream, leaped
into the arms not of sister Kate, but Harry
Ansleel
Sophie declares to this day that she has
never forgiven either of them, though she has
been Mrs. Ainslee nearly two years.