The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1858-03-24

said as she took finishing survey of her
person in the glass, and shook out, with
her plump, jeweled fingers the folds of
her airy muslin dress.
The moment afterwards, when a servent
entered to announce Mr.. Harry Ainslee,
she was back on her old seat by the wind
ow rocking and playing with her fan, ap-
| pearently as unconcerned and listless as
though that name had not sent a quicker
thrill to her heart, Or the betraying Grim
son all over her pretty face.
Tell him | 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 her hands to her guest
but as if suddenly recolecting herself,
drew them back again, and with 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
foreseen what was coming? that present.
iment of that visit and its result had die
tated the merry speeches in her chamber
Be that as 1t may, a half hour had not
elapsed before that Harry Anslee's hand
and fortune, (which latter by the way was
nothing wonderful were in the same place
where Capt, Morris's and DR.. Wilkins
had been before them
"The first man that | ever heard saw
such things without making fool of him.
self" muttered Sophie emphatically from
behind her fan, as she sat blushing, and
evidently gratifed, 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 penancc for the pretty
way hemanages his tongue. He's altogetb-
er too calm to suit me-" And SOPHIE
shook her curly head meaningly, holding
her fan before her for screen-did she
forget what she had been saying 81
wonder if | could snore the way old Uucle
Jones used to in church 2" she soliloquized.
Wouldn't it be fun ?-and wouldn't il
plague Harry if he thought I had been
asleep while he was talking? ?"
Sophie's eyes danced with suppressed
merriment as she gave two or three heavy
breathings, and followed them up with
nasal explosion worthy of any orthodox
deacon. 1t was well done and poor
Harry sprang bolt upwright-surprised,
mortified, chagrined. Human nature could
stand it no longer, and Sophie gave vent
to her mirth in burst OF laughter.
"Y-o-u little witch--you mischief-you
spirit of evil p exclaimed the relieved
Harry, as he sprang to her side and caught
her by the arm with Il grippe that made
ner scream. You deserve a 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 gen.
erous enough to tell 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
of her being were stirred and drawn to-
wards him as they never before had been
to any man.
But she could not quite give up her
raillery then. She wonld 60 one step fur.
ther 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 mocking ges-
ture and ringing laugh, danced across
the room to the piano
She seated herself, ran her fingers grace
fully over the keys, and broke out in u
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 utter
ance.
Sophie, listen to me % he said at
length, as she paused from sheer exhaus.
ton. " Is it generous--is it Just, to trde
with me so TO turn into ridicule the emo
tions Of a heart that offers you its mos