The emigrant aid journal of Minnesota. [volume] (Nininger City, Minn. Terr. [i.e. Minn.]) 1856-1858, 1858-01-13

never so disagreeable, as when they are making love.
A friend is a luxury-a husband ditto, | suppose; but
that intermittent class of human beings denominated
"lovers" are terrible bores. 1t does very we'll for a
woman to blush and look fustered now and then, when
occasion makes it desirable but to see a man with his
face as red as a ripe cherry, and a real parcel Of strong
mindedness, self-reliance, and masculine dignity, done
up in broadcloth aud starched linen, quaking from the
toe of his boot to the top of his shirt-collar, his mouth
awry and his tongue twisted into commissions, in the
vain attempt to say something sweet-O gracious"
So said the saucy Sophie Lynn aloud to herself, as
she sat swinging backwards and forwards before her
window, half buried in the cushions of a luxurious arm
chair, and playing with a delicate ivory fan that lay
upon her lap.
1t always seems so strange, not to say tiresome,' she
continued, with a running, musical laugh, after one
has waltzed aud sung, quoted poetry and talked nonsense
with any body, till one is puzzled to know which of the
two is most heartless, ones self or ones companion, to
hear him come plump down on the subject Of m%atrimony,
as though that was the legitimate result of every such
insipid acquaintanceship For my part l never had a
lover, there Sophie auttered her fan and looked pleased,
for she had had more than one,) that [ wasn't heartily
sick Of after be had proposed. There was CAPTAIN Nor
ris-I thought him the handsomest man in my whole
circle of acquaintance, until he went on his knees to
me, and swore he should die if I didn't take pity on
him. Somehow he always looked like a fright to me
afterwards. Then there was DR.. Wilkins-he was real
ly agreeable, and people said very learned. l was de-
lighted with him for a time but he spoiled it all with
that offer of his-what long-winded adjectives :? and
how the poor fellow blushed, and pulled, and p~erspired
He called ne an " adorable creature" and hiccoughed
in the middle of +" adorable" Horrors. I've detested
him ever since. Then there was -
Here Sophie started. She heard the door-bel ring.
With a nervous spring she stood before her mirror,
smoothing down her brown hair with u haste truly conf
cal. -.
1t won't do to seem interested she said as she took
a finishing survey of her person in the glass, and shook
oDt with hpr rll1mD 1nwe1ad fprarS tho folds IF her
airy muslin dress.
The moment afterwards, when a servant entered to
announce Mr.. Harry Ainslee, she was back on her old
seat by the window, rocking and playing with her fan,
apparently as unconcerned and listless as though that
name had not sent a quicker thrill to her heart, or the
~betraying crimson all over her pretty face. sTell him
I will be down presently she said.
The girl disappeared, and Sophie flung open her win
dow, that the cool, fresh wind might fan away the extra
rosiness of her complexion. Then she went again to
the mirror, and after composing her bright, eager, hap
by face into an expression OF occurrences, descended to
the parlor. \ smile broke over her features, and she
reached out both hands to her guest but, as if sudden
ly recollecting herself, drew them back again, and with
a formal bow of recognition, she passed him, and seated
herself in a further corner of the room. Ey1
It was very evident that something was wrong with
Sophie that she had made up her mind either not to
be pleased or not to please. Could it be that she had
foreseen what was coming? that a presentment of that
visit and its result had dictated the merry speeches in
her chamber? BE that as it may, a half hour had not
elapsed before she knew that Harry Ainslee's hand and
fortune, (Which latter, by the way, was nothing wonder
full. were in the same place where Captain Morris's and
DR.. Wilkinson's had been before them.
.The first man that | ever heard say such things with
out making a fool of HIMSELF muttered Sophie emphati-
cally from behind her fan, as she sat blushing, and evil
IDENTIFY %grati6ed, yet without deigning any reply to the
gallant, straight forward speech in which her lover had
risked his all of hope.
He ought to do penance for the pretty way he man
ages his tongue. He's altogether too calm to suit me-
And Sophie shook her curly head meaningly, holding
her fan before her for a screen-did she forget what she
had been saying ? 4 wonder if I could sDdre the way
old Uncle Jones used to in church !? , she solloQuized.
Wouldn't it be fun ?-and wouldn't it plague Harry if
he thought 1 had been asleep while he was talking ?'f
Sophie's blue eyes danced with suppressed merriment
as she gave two or three heavy breathings, and followed
them up with a nasal explosion worthy ofTsM' orthodox
deacon. It was we'll done@theatricalIy done and poor
Harry sprang bolt upright-surprised, mortified cha
grined. Human nature could stand it no longer, and
Sophie gave vent to her mirth in a burst of triumphant
laughter. .5s: s2at. Z j. !.
You little witch-you mischief--you spirit Of evil?
exclaimed the relieved Harry, as be spraug to her side
and caught her by the arm with a grippe that made her
scream. sYou deserve a shaking for your behavior =
Then, lowering his voice, he added gravely, Will you
never have done tormenting me If you love nae, can
you not be generous enough to tell me SO land ii you
do not, am I not, at least, worthy of q candid refusal !!
WoIuS SpTduS w oopulc . Ups u "ouAU "a NO"o
credit to her womanly nature and made her lovers heart
bound with rapture for the whole depths, OF her being
were stirred, and drawn towards him as they never be-
fore had been to any man. But she could not quite
give up her raillery then. She would 60 one step fur
Their from him ere she laid her hand in his and told him
he was dearer than all the world beside. So she check
ed the tender response that trembled on her tongue, and
Singing off his grasp with a hooking gesture and . ring
ing laugh, danced across the room to the piano.
She seated herself, she ran her fingers gracefully over
the keys, and began a wild, brilliant, defiant song, that
made her listeners ears tingle as he stood watching her,
and choking back the indignant words that came crowd.
ing to his lips for utterance. asa
Sophie, listen to me y he said at length, as she
paused from sheer exhaustion. is it generous-is it
Just, to triAe with me 50 TO turn into ridicule the
emotions Of a heart that offers you its most reverend af
fections 2 / have loved you, because, under this yela-
tile, surfacc-character Of yours, I thought i saw the truth
fulness and simplicity, purity q soul and 2 warm cur cur,
blessings the whole life of him whose hand was FORUM
4te enough to touch its secret springs. You are an
heiress, and l only a poor student; but if that is the
reason why you treat my suit SO s~cornfully, you axe less
than the noble woman that thought you, sss@ s