Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1858-07-23
miscellaneous.
THE END OF A WOMAN'S CAPRICES.


LOVE STORY.
"Men are never so awkward, never so un-
graceful. never so disagrceable, as when they
are making love. A friend is a luxury,
husband ditto, ! suppose but that intermit-
tent class of human beings denominated low
ers are terrible bores. 1t does very well
for women to blush and look hustered now
and then, when occasion makes it desirable
but to sec a man with his face as red as
ripe cherry, and a real parcel Of strong mind
edness. self-reliance and masculine dignity,
done up in broadcloth and starchod linen,
quaking from tho 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! y
SO said saucy Sophie Lynn aloud to her
self as she sat swinging backwards and for
wards before the window, half buried in the
cushions Of luxuriant armchair, and play
in with delicate ivory fan which lay upon
her lap.
at also seems strange, not to say tiresomc,
she confined, with running. musical laugh,
"altcr one has waltzed and sung, quoted poe
try and talked nonsense, with anybody, till
one is puzzled TO know which ono Of the two
is the most hcartless, ones self or one com
panion, to hear him come down plump on
the subject Of matrimony as though that was
the legitimate result Of every such insipid
acquaintance For my part. | never had
lover there Sophie futtered her fan and
looked pleased. for she had more than one,
that wasn't sick Of after he had proposed.
There was Capt. Morris thought him the
handsomest man in the whole circle Of my
acquaintance, until he went on his knees to
me, and swore he should die if | didn't take
pity on him. Somehow he always looked
like a fright to me afterwards. Then there
was DR. Wilkins--hc was really agreeable,
and the people said very Learned. ] was de-
lighted with him for a time but he spoiled
it all with that offer of his--what long wind
ed adjectves and how the poor fellow blush
ed, pufiod and perspired lie called me an
adorable creature, and hiccoughed in the
middle Of adorable. Horrors / have hated
him ever since. Then there was a.
Here Sophie started. She heard the door
bell ring. With nervous spring, she stood
before her mirror, smoothing down her brown
hair with haste truly comical.
at won't do to seem interested. she said,
as she took a finishing survey of her person
in the glass. and shook out, with her plump,
jewclled fingers, the folds of her airy muslin
dress.
The moment afterwards when servant
entered to announce Mr.. Harry Ainslee, she
was back to her old seat by the window,
rocking and playing with her fan, apparently
as unconcerned and listless as though that
name had not sent quicker thrill to her heart,
or the betraying crimson all over her pretty
face. Tell him l will be down presently"
she said.
The girl Disappeared and Sophie flung
open the window. that the cool, fresh air
might fan away the extra rosiness from her
complexion. Then she went again to the
mirror, and after composing her bright, eager,
happy face into an expression Of occurrences.
descended to the parlor a smile broke over
her features, and she reached out both hands
to the guest; but as if suddenly recolecting
herself, she drew them back again, and, with
a formal bow of recognition, she passed him,
and seated herself in further corner of the
room.
1t 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 ioresocn
what was coming that prosentiment 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 Harry
Ainslee's hand and fortune (which latter, by
the way, was nothing wonderful, were in the
same place where Capt. Morrs's and DR..
Wilkins's had been before them.
"The first man | ever heard say such things
without making a fool Of himself" muttercd
Sophie cmphatcally from behind her fan, as
she sat blushing and evidently gratifed, yet
without deigning any reply to the gallant,
straightforward speech in which her lover
risked his all of hope
"He ought to do pcnancc for the pretty
way he manages his tongue. He's altogether
too calm TO suit me- And Sophie shook
her curly head meaningly. holding her fan be-
fore her for a screon-did she forget what she
had been saying II wonder if ! could snore
the way old Uncle Jones used to in church :"
she soliloquized. "Wouldn't it be fun and
wouldn't it plague Harry if he thought had
been asleep while he was talking y
Sophic's blue eyes danced with suppressed
merriment as she gave two or three heavy
breathings, and followed them up with a nasal
explosion worthy of an orthodox deacon. 1t
was well done--and Electrically done-and
poor Harry sprang bolt upright-surpriscd
mortified chagrined. Human nature could
stand it no longer, and Sophie gave vent to
her mirth in a burst of triumphant laughter.
"Y-o-u little witch--you mischief-you
spirit Of evil r' exclaimed the relieved Harry,
as he sprang to her side and caught her by
the arm with grip that made her scream
"You deserve shaking for your behavior -
Then lowering his voice, he added gravely
"Will 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 at least worthy Of a candid refusal Z"
Words sprang to Sophe's lips that would
have done credit to her womanly nature, and
made her lovers heart bound with rapture,
for the whole depths of her being were stir
red and drawn towards him as they never had
been towards any man.
But she could not quite give up her railery
then. She would go one step further from
him ere she laid her hand in his aud told him
he was dearer than all the world beside. So
she checked the tender response that trem-
bled on her tongue, and Ainging off his grasp,
with mocking 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 watching
her, and choking back the indignant words
that came crowding to his lips for utterance
.Conbia liston to mo - he said nt length