Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1858-07-07
wouldn't it plague Harry if he thought had

explosion worthy of an orthodox deacon. 1t
was well done-and theatricaly done-and
poor Harry sprang bolt upught-surprised
mortified, chagrined. Human nature could
stand 1t no longer, and Sophie gave vent to
her mirth in burst of laughter.
stY-o-u little witch-you mischief-you spir-
1t oil evilf' exclaimed the relieved Harry, as
he sprang to her side and caught her by the
arm with grip that made her scream. ssYou
deserve shaking for your behavor.'' Then
lowering his voice, he added gravely:
"Will you never have done tormenting me
If you love me, can You not be generous e.
nough totell me SO and if you do not, am
not at least worthy of a candid refusal ~
Words sprang to Sophie'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 stirred
and drawn towards him as they never before
had been to any man.
But she could not quite give up her rai.ery
then. She would go ono 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 fiinging off his grasp, with
knocking gesture and ringing laugh, danced
across the room to the piano.
= She seated herself she ran her fingers grace
fully over the keys, and broke out in a wild,
brilliant, defiant song, that made her listeners
ears tingle as he stood watching her. and chok-
ing back the indignant words that came crowd
ing to his lips for utterance.
'sSophie, listen to me ~ he said at length,
she paused from sheer exhaustion ssIs it
generous-is it just, TO trife with me so to
turn into ridicule the emotion of a heart that
offers you its most reverent affections? have
loved you, because beneath this volatile sur
face character of yours, thought saw truth
fulness and simplicity, purity of soul, and
warm current of TENDER womanly feelings
that would battle with blessings the whole life
of him whose hand was so fortunate as to
touch its secret springs. You are an heiress,
and l only poor student; but if that is the
reason why you treat my suit SO scornfuIly.
you are less the noble woman than l thought
you.''
Sophie's head was averted, and suspicious
moisture glistened in her eyes Harry ceased
speaking. All why is it that we sometimes
hold our highest happiness so lightiy-carry-
ing it carelcssiy in our hands as though it
were but dross, stalking il all upon an idle ca
price.
When she turned her countenance towards
him again, the same mocking light was in her
eyes, the same coqCetish smile breathed from
her red lips.
ssSpeaking of heiresses,'' said she, ssThere's
Helen Myrtle, whose father is worth twice as
much as mine. Perhaps you had better trans
fer your attention to her, Mr.. Ainslee. The
difference in our dowries would no doubt be
quite an inducement, and possibly she might
consider your case more seriously than | have
dOne.'
Like an insuted prince, Harry Anslee stood
up before her-the hot, fiery, indignant blood
dashed in fierce torrent over his facc--his
arms crossed tightly upon his breast as if to
keep his heart from bursting with uprising in
dignation-his compressed, and his dark eyes
flashing. Sophie, cruel Sophie! You added
one drop too much to your cup of sarcasm.
hi rboa In
step further than you would have dared, had
you known his proud and sensitive nature.
y ot till he had gone-gOne without single
word of eXpostulation. leaving only 4 grave
s.good bye" and the memory of his pale face
to plead for him-did the thoughtless girl
wake 10 realization Of what she had done.
Then quick, terrible 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.
s.Pshaw, what am | afraid of? He will be
back again within twenty -four hours, and as
importunate as ever" she muttered to herself
as the street door closed after him yet sigh
that was half sob, followed the words. and
could Harry have seen the beautiful pair of
eyes that watched him SO eagerly as he went
the long street, or the bright face that leaned
away out through the parted blinds, with such
uilful look, as he disappeared, it might
have been his turn to triumph
In spite of Sophe's prophecy, twenty -four
hours did not bring back Harry. Days ma
tured into weeks, and still he did not come,
nor in all that time did she SEQ him. And now
she began to think herself quite martyr and
act accordingly. In fact, she did as almost
any heroine would have done under the cir
cum mstances-grew pale and interesting. Ma
rama began to suggest delicacies 10 tempt
Sophie's palate. s.The poor dear child was
getting so thin.'' In vain Sophie protested
that she had no appetite.
In vain papa brought dainty gifts and piled
up costly dresses before his pet. a faint smile,
or distracted ssthank yOu,' was the only re-
compense. If sister Kate suggested that Har-
RVS absence was in any manner connected
with her altered demeanor, Sophie would toss
her ringleted head with an air of supreme in
difference, ana 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 true mystery,
should know all-so said Sophie. Perhaps
she could advise her what to do, for to give
Harry up forever seemed every day more and
more of an impossibility.
ssWill you come into the garden with me,
Kate ?'' she asked in trembling voice of her
sister one day, about n month after her trouble
with Harry, ssI have something of importan &c
to tell YOU"
eGo away, darling, and will be With you il
few moments, replied Kate, CASING search
ing glance at Sophie's flushed checks anf
swollen eyes.
Running swiftly along the garden baths. a,
if from fear of pursuit, Sophie turned aside
into her favorite arbor, Ind dinging hersel
down on a low seat, buried her head among
the cool vines, and gave herself up to parox
ysm OF passionate gEief. Soon she heard step
approaching, and an arm was twined tenderl,