Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1860-08-09

ry speeches in her chamber? Be that as
! it may, a half hour had not elapsed before
/ Harry Ainslce's hand and fortune, (thoueh
the latter, by the way, was nothing wonder
! full. were in the same place where Capt.
Norris and DR.. Wilkins had been before
them
1.-The first man that [ ever heard say such
things without making fool of himself, y
muttered Sophie, emphatically, 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 had risked his all of hope.
"He ought to do pennance for the pretty
way he manages his tongue. He's altogeth-
err too calm to suit me-" And Sophie shook
her curly head rheaningly. holding her fan
before her for screen. Did she forget
what she had been saying? Il wonder if
[ could snore the way old uncle Jones used
to in church % she soliloquised. "Wouldn't
it be fun--and wouldn't it plague Harry if
he thought I had been asleep while he was
talking ?"
Sophie's blue eyes danced with suppressed
merriment as she gave two or three heavy
/
nasal explosion worthy of an orthodox dca-
con. It was we'll done-and Electrically
done-and poor Harry sprang bolt upright,
surprised, mortified, chagrined. Human
nature could stand it no longer, and Sophie
gave vent to her mirth in burst of trium-
plant laughter.
"Y-o-u little witch-you mischief-you
spirit of evil )" exclaimed the reviled 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 p
Then lowering his voice, he added gravely :
"Will you never have done tormenting
me ? If you love me can you not be gene
rous enough to tell me SO and if you do
not, am [ not at least worthy Of a candid
refusal p
Words sprang to Sophie's lips that would
have done credit to her womanly nature, for
the whole depths of her being were stirred
and drawn towards him as they never before
had been towards any man.
But she could not quite give up her raile-
ny then. She would go 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 4inging
Off his grasp, with mocklng 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
a 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 lifs for utterance.
tSophie, listen to me! '' he said at length
as he paused from sheer exhaustion lis
it generous-is it just, to trife with me so
to turn into ridicule the emotion of heart
that offers to you the most reverent affec-
tons? L have loved you because beneath
this volatile surface character of yours, [
thought [ saw truthfulness and simplicity,
purity of soul, and warm current of ten
der, womanly feelings, that would battle
with blessings the whole life of him whose
hand was so fortunate as to touch it's secret
springs. You are an heiress, and I only a
poor student; but if that is the reason why
you treat me SO scornfully, you are less the
noble woman than [ thought you"
Sophie's head was averted, and suspi-
cieus moisture glistened in her eyes as Har-
ry ceased speaking. All F.! why is it that we
sometimes hold our highest happiness SO
lightly-carrying it carelcssly in our hands,
as though it were but dross, stalking it all
upon an idle caprice? When she turned
her countenance towards him again, the
same hooking light was in her eyes, the
same coquettish smile breathed from her
red lips.
Speaking of heiresses," said Sophie,
''there is Helen Myrtle, whose father is
worth twice as much as mine. Perhaps
you had better transfer your attention to her,
Mr. Ainslee The difference in our dowa-
ries would no doubt be quite an inducement,
and possibly she might consider your case
more seriously than l have DONE
Like an insulted prince. Harry Anslee
stood up before her-the hot, fiery, indig-
nant blood dashed in fierce current over
his face-his arms crossed tightly upon his
breast as if to keep is heart from bursting
with uprising Indignation, his lips compress
ed, and his dark eyes flashing. Sophie,
cruel Sophie You trespassed upon bis
forbearance one little step further than you
would have dared, had you known his proud
and sensitive nature.
Not till he had gone--gone without a
single word of expostulation, leaving only
a grave good bye" and the memory Of his
pale face to plead for him-did the thought
less girl wake to a 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.
''Pshaw /! what am / afraid of? He will
be back again in twenty-four hours, and as
importunate as ever" she muttered to her.
self, as the street door closed after him vet
a sigh that was half a sob, followed the
words, and could Harry have seen the beau
tiful pair Of eyes that watched him so eager
ly as he went down the long street, or the
bright face that leaned way out through the
parted blinds with such wistful look as he
disappeared, it might have been his turn to
! triumph