The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1858-08-19

tongue, and finglng off his grasp, with a
mocklng gesture and 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 listeners ears tingle as he stood watch
ing her, and choking back the indignant
words that came crowding to his lips for
utterance.
"Sophie, listen to me- he said at
length, as she paused from sheer exhaus-
ton. Is it generous, is it just, to tride
with me 50? To turn into ridicule the
emotions of heart that offers to you the
most reverent affections
81 have loved you, because, beneath
this volatile surface character of yours,
thought | saw truthfulness and simplici-
ty. purity Of soul, and a warm current of
tender, womanly feelings, that would bathe
with blessings the whole life of him whose
hand was SO fortunate as to touch its Sc
cret springs. You are heireSs, and |
only poor student; but if that is the
reason why you treat my suit so scorn-
fully, you are less the noble woman than
I thought you"
Sophie's head was averted, and sus-
picious moisture gIistened in her eyes "a,
Harry ceased speaking. All! why is it
that we sometimes hold our highest hap
piness SO lightly-carying it carelessly
in our hands, as though it were but dross,
shaking it all upon an idle caprice!
When she turned her countenance to-
wards him again, the same mockiDg light
was in her eyes, the same coquettish
smile breathed from her red lips.
"Speaking Of heiresses," said Sophie
" there's Helen Myrtle, whose father is
worth twice as much as mine. Perhap.
you had better transfer your attention tc
her, Mr. Ainslee The difference in oul
dowries would no doubt be quite an in.
ducement, and possibly she might con
slider your case more seriously than | have
done"
Like an insuIted prince, Harry Ainslee
stood up before her-the hot, fiery, indig
nant 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 indignation-hi.
compressed lips, and his dark eyes fash
ing. Sophie, cruel Sophie. You addec
one drop too much to your cruel sarcasm
You trespassed upon his forbearance on,
little step further than you would have
dared. had you known his proud and sensi
tive nature
Not till he had gone-gone without 6
single word Of expostulatiou, leaving only
a grave " gcod-hy" and the memory Of hi
pale face to plead iog hin-did the thought
less giri wake to realization Of what she
had done. Then quick, terrible feal
shot through her heart, and She woult
have given every curl on her brown heac
to have had hlm beside her one short mo
ment longer.
"Pahaw what am I afraid of? H
viii be back again within twenty-Goul
hours, and as importunate as ever" she
muttered to herself, as the street door
closed after him yet SIGH that was hal
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 a wistful look, IS he disappeared, il
might have been his turn to triumph
In spite Of Sophie's prophecy, TWEEN
ty-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 her,
self quite martyr, and acted according.
ly. In fact, she did as almost any hero
inc would have done under the circum.
stances-orew pale and interesting. Ma
RAMA baoan to suooast the dclicacips +