Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-06-30
THE END OF A wOMAN,s CAPRICEs.
A Lave Storv

Love story.
''Men are never so awkward, never so un-
graceful, never 80 disagreeable as when they
are making love. A friend is a luxury. a hus.
band ditto, suppose; but that intermittent
class of human beings denominated lovers are
terrible bores. 1t does very well for women
TO blush and look fustered now and then when
occasion makes ii desirable; but to see u man
with his face as red as a ripe cherry, and real
parcel of strong -mindedness, self-reliance, and
masculine dignity, done up in broadcloth and
starched linen, quakiDg from the top of his
SHIRT collar, his mouth awry, and his tongue
twisted into commissions, in the vain attempt
to say something sweet-0 gracious ~
80 said saucy Sophie Lynn aloud to herself.
as she sat swinging backwards and forwards
before the window, half buried in the cushions
t1f sfuxuriant armchair, and playing with a
delicate ivory fan which lay upon her lap.
1t also seems so strange, not to say tire
some, she continued, with a running musical
laugh, ''after one has waltzed and sung quoted
poetry and talked nonsense with anybody till
one Is puzzled to know which one of the two is
most heartless, ones self or ones companion,
TO hear him come down plump on the subject
Of matrimOny, as though that was the Iegiti-
mate result Of every such insipid acquaintance,
For my part never had a lover (here Sophie
futtered her fan and looked pleased, for she
had more than One) that wasn't sick of after
he proposed There was Captain Morris-I
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 l
didn't take pity on him. Somehow he always
looked like fright to me afterwards. Then
there was DIR. Wilkins-he was really agreeable
and people said very learned. / was delighted
with him Tor time; but he spoiled it ali with
that offer Of his-what lOngwinded adjectiyes
and how the poor fellow blushed, puffed, and
PersPired. He called me an adorable crea-
ture,' and hiccOugked in the middle of 'adora-
10 -
Then there was a-'
Here Sophie started She heard the door
bell ring. With a nervous spring she stood
before the mirror, smoothing down her brown
hair with taste truly comical
- 1t won't do to seem interested" she said
as she took finishing survey Of her person in
the glass, and shook out, with her plump lew
eled fingers, the folds of her airy muslin dress.
The moment afterwards, when a servant en-
tered to announce Mr.. Harry Ainslee she was
back to her old seat by the window, rocking
and playing with her fan, apparently as uncon1
cerned and listless as though. that name had
not sent aqulcker thrill to her heart or the
betraying crimson all over her pretty face
Tell him 1 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 the features, and
she reached out both hands to the guest; but
as If suddenly recOllecting herself, she drew
them back again, and with formal bow of re-
cOgnitiOn, she passed him and seated herself in
further corner of the room.
1t very evident that something was
wrong with Sophia; that she had made mp her
mind either not to be pleased, or not to please
Could it be that she had foreseen what was
coming that presentnent of that visit and
ITS result had dictated the merry speeches in
her chamber! Be that it nay, half hour
had not elapsed before Harry AinsIee's hand
and fortune, Though the latter by the way,
was nothing wonderfully we're in the same
place where Capt. Morris and Dr. wilkins
had been before them.
The first man that ever heard say such
things without making fool of himself - mut-
tered Sophie, emphatically, from behind her
fan, as she sat blushing and evidently gratiied,
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 altogether
too calm to suit me-" And Sophie gho9k her
curly head meaningly, holding her fan before
her for a screen. Did she forget what she had
been saying II wonder if [ could snore the
way old uncle Jones used to in church ?'' she
solilOquised. 90 Wouldn't it be fun-and
wouldn't it plague Harry if he thought I had
Sophie's blue eyes danced with suppressed
merriment as she gave two or three heavy
breathings, and followed them up with a ma
sal explosion worthy of an orthodox deacon
Ii was well done-and theatrically done-and
poor Harry sprang bolt upright, surprised,
mortified, chsgrined. Human nature could
stand it no longer, and Sophie gave ven to
her mirth in a burst of triumphant laughter.
You little witch you mischief-you
spirit of evil 30 exclaimed the reyiled Harry
as he spang to her side and caught her by the
arm with a grip that made her scream, ''you
deserve shaking for your behavior" Then
lowering his voice, he added gravely:
viii 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 1 not at
least worthy of a candid refusal2''
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 railery
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 trembIed
on her tongue, and finging of his grasp, with
smOcking 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
choking back the indignant words that came
crowding to his lips for utturance.
Sophie, listen to me - he said at length
as he paused from sheer exhaustion " Is it
generous-is 1T jusf, to triie with me sO-to
turn into Tldicule the emotion of a heart that
Cfers to you the most reyerent affections? /
have loved you because beneath this volatile
surface character Of yours, thought saw
truthfulness and simplicity, purity of soul
ings, that would battle with blessings the
whole life Of him whose hand was so fortunate
as 10 touch its secret springs. You are an
heiress, and only 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 sverted, and a suspicious
moisture glistened in her eyes as Harry ceased
speaking. All! why is it that we sometimes
hold our highest happiness so lightly-carry-
ing 1T carelessly in our hands, as though it
were but dross, stalking il all upon an idle
caprice? When she turned her countenance
towards him again, the same mocking light