Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-06-30

Irespassed upon his forbearance one little stan
further than you would have dared. had Won
known ms proud and sensitive nature.
NOT TILL he had gone-gone without single
word OF expostulation, leaving only grave
goodbye, and the memory of his pale face
to plead for him-did the thoupbtless Girl
wake to realization of what she had done
Then quick, terrible fear shot through her
neart, and she would have given every curl on
her brown head to have had him beside her
one short moment longer
"Pshaw! what ana L afraid of He will he
oack again in twenty -four hours, and as impor-
tunate as ever, she muttered to herself as
the street door closed after him yet SIGH
tnat was half sob, followed the words. and
could Harry have seen the beautiful pair of
eyes that watched him so eagerly as he went
down the long street, or the bright face that
teamed way out through the parted blinds witt
such wistful look as he disappeared, it might
have been his turn to triumph
In spite OF Sophie's prophecy, twenty-four
hours did not bring back Harry. Dsys ma.
tured into weeks, and still he did not come
nor In all that time did she see him. And
now she began to think herself quite Inartyr
and acted accordingly. In fact, she did as
almost any heroine would have done under the
circumstances-grew pale and interesting
Mariana began to suggest delicacies to tempt
SOphie's palate. "The poor dear child was
getting so thin In vain Sopbie pretested
that she had no appetite
In vain papa bought dainty gifts and piled
up costly dresses before his pet. faint smile
or distracted "thank you" was his only recon-.
pense. II sister Kate suggested that Harry's
absence was In any way connected with her
altered demeanor, Sophie would toss her ring
leted head with an air of supreme indifference,
ana go away and cry over it, hours at time
Everybody thought something was the matter
wltn 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 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.
viii you come into the garden with me,
Nate" she asked, in trembling voice, of her
sister one day, about month after her trouble
to tell you"
'Go away darling, and 1 will be with you in
few moments" replied Kate, casting a
searching glance at SOphie's flushed cheek and
swollen eyes.
Running swiftly along the garden paths. as
II from tear OF pursuit, Sophie turned aside
into her favorite arbor, and, finging herself
down on low seat, buried her head among
the cool vines, and gave herself up to paroxysn
OF passionate grief. Soon she heard one ap-
pToachlng, and an arm was twined tenderiy
about her waist, and a warm hand was laid
caressingly on her dropped head
80, Kate, Kate :" she cried in the agony of
her repentance, 81 am perfectly wretched-you
don't know why, though you have come Tery
near guessing two or three times. Harry
and I"-
Here convulsive. sob interrupted her, and
the hand upon her head passed over her disor-
dered curls with a gentle soothing motion.
Harry and I''-another sOb-qusrreled
two or three weeks ago. L was wiiiful and
rude, just as 1t was natural for me to be, and
ne got angry. don't think he is going to for
give, for he hasn't been here since"
Sophie felt herself drawn in a closer en-
brace, and was sure Kate pitied her.
Il would not have owned it to anybody if it
had not been just as it is,' she continued, rub
bIng her little white hands into her eyes, "but
l think L love him almost as do you and
father and mother
tighter was she held. She wondered that X ate
was go silent, but still kept her face hidden in
the vines -
''He asked me to be his wife, " she continued.
asked me as nobody else ever did-in such a
manly way that he made me feel as though |
ought to have been the one to plead instead of
nim- could not bear that, and " answered
him as L should not. He thought it was because
be was poor and 1 was rich; and all the time I
was thinking would rather live in a cottage
with him than in the grandest in the world
with any other man, only was too proud to
tell him so to his face. What can do? Tell me
Kate, you are much better than am, and you
never get into trouble. am sure shall die
you don't And poor Sophie wept anew.
Look up dear, and I'll tell you. -
Sophie did look up with a start, and the next
moment, with little scream, leaped into the
arms-nOt Of sister Kate, but of Harry Ainslee
Sophie declares to this day that she has
never forgiven either Of them, though she has
been Mrs. Ainslee two years