The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1858-01-07

Sophie eyes danced with suppressed
0 meriment as she gave two or three heaYy
breathiDgs, and followed them up with
I nasal explosion worthy of an orthodox
deacon. 1t was well done-thearicalIy
done; and poor Harry sprang bolt up
right surprised, mortified, chagrined
Human nature could stand it no longer
e and Sophie gave vent to her mirth in
, burst of triumphant laughter.
You little witch You mischief yor
{ spirit Of evil, exclaimed the relieved llar
ry, as he sprang to her side and caush
her by the arm with a grippe that made
her scream You deserve shaking fol
your behayior!' Then lowering his voice
he added gravely. win you never have
done tormenting me? If you love me
can you not be generous enough to tell
me so?-and if you do not, am | not, al
least, worthy of candid refusalP
Words spiang to Sophie's lips that
would have done credit to her womanly
nature and made her loyer'a heart bound
with rapture; for the whole,depths of her
being were stirred, and drawn towards
him as they never before had been to any
man. But she could not quite give up
her raillery then. She would 90 one step
further from him ere she laid her hand in
his, and told him he was dearer than all
the world beside. So she checked the
tender response that trembled on her
tongue, and finging off his grasp with a
mocking gesture and a ringing laugh,
danced across the room to the piano.
She seated herself, she ran her fingers
gracefully over the keys, and broke out
in wild, brilliant, defiant song, that
made her listner's ears tingle as be stood
watching her, and choking back the in
dignant words that crowded to his lips
for utterance.
Sophie, listen to mel he said at
length, as she paused from sheer exhaus-
ton. is it generous-iS it just to trihe
with me soto turn into ridicule the
emotions Of a heart that offers you its
most reverent affections! | have loved
you, because under this volatile surface
character of yours, l thought | saw truth
fulness and simplicity; purity of soul.
and warm current Of tender, womanIy
feeling, that would bathe with blessings
the whole life Of him whose hand was for
tunate enough to touch its secret springs
You are an heress, and l only poor stu
dent bnt if that is the reason why you
treat my suit so scornIully, you are less
the noble woman that l thought you
Sophie's head was averted, and sus.
picious moisture glstened in her eyes as
Harry ceased speaking. All! why is it
that we sometimes hold our highest hap
piness SO lghtly-carrying it carelessIy
in our hands as though it were but dross,
and stalking it all upon an idle caprice!
When she turned her countenance to-
wards him again, the same mocking light
was in her eyes, the same coquetish smile
wreathed 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 transfer your attentions
TO her, Mr.. Ainslee. The difference ia
our dowrios would no doubt be quite an
inducement, and possibly she might con,
slider your case more seriously than |
have done.
Like an insulted prince, Harry Aims.
lee stood up before 'her--the hot, fiery,
indignant blood dashing in fierce tor
rent over his face--his arms crossed
lightly upon his breast, as if to keep his
heart from bursting with its uprising in
dignation-his lips compressed and his
dark eye flashing. 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 a
single word of expostulation; leaving on
ly a grave goodbye and the memory of
his pale face to plead for him--did the
thoughtless girl wake to realization of
what she had done. Then a quick, ter.
ribIe fear shot through her heart, and
she would have given every curl on her
brown head to have had him beside her
one short moment longer. ...
'Pshaw! what am l afraid Of? He will
be back again within twenly-four hours,
as importunate as ever she muttered to
herself, as the street door closed after
him; yet a sigh, that was half a sob, fol-
lowed the words, and could Harry have
seen the beautiful pair of eyes that watch
ed him so eagerly as he went down the
long street, or the bright face that leaned
away out through the parted blinds, with
such wistful look, after he had disap-
peared, it might have been his turn to tri.
umph.
In spite of Sophe's prophecy twenty
four hours did not bring back Harry
Days matured into weeks and Still he did
not come, nor in all that fine did she see
him. And now she began to. think her
self quite a martyr, and act accordingly.
In fact, she did as almost any heroine
would have done under the circumstan.
ces, grew pale and interesting. Mamma
began to suggest delicacies,to tempt So
phie's palafe, the poor dear child was
getting SO thinP23In vain. Sophie pro-
tested that she had no appetite. ~.
In vaaaluSt'ssps brought dainty gifts, and
piled uthA rely dresses. before his pet
A faint smile, or an abstracted thank
YOU, was bis only recomponse. IL sis