The weekly Shasta courier., 1873-04-12

watchful vigilance that, with her brother at
least, it was very bad case, and she inclin-
ed to believe Clara not altogether averse to
his somewhat marked attentions.
Sophy was notable little housekeeper
amongst her other qualifications, possessed
a habit of early rising. Jingling her keys
and singing as gayly as her pet canary, dur
ing her ante-breakfast preparations, her
clear voice generally acted as a musical
alarum to awaken the other inmates of Egg
mont Villa from their respective slumbers
Gerald was generally the last to obey the
summons therefore Sophy felt rather sur
prised when, one morning, he joined her in
the garden long before his usual time.
"Why, brother mine," she said gayly as
with scissors in hand she stopped to cut
some sprigs of heliotrope, what has made
you SO energetic? It's scarcely seven"
"Oh, did not sleep very well, SO
thought | might as well turn out, and ]
wanted to speak to you alone"
I'm sure | feel deeply honored," replied
Sophy, without looking up. Fray pro-
ceed."
T "Well, then, | think of remaining in
London for the next week or ten days you
won't be afraid to be left with only women
in the house, shall you at night, l mean
Indeed shall so you'll do nothing OF
the kind. I never heard of such strange
behavior. Why, Gerald, you must have TAX
en- leave of your senses. 60 and lie down
for an hour, and try to sleep yourself into a
more sensible frame of mind"
Don't be angry, there's DEAR" said
Gerald earnestly, 81 mustgo."
Must | see no must in the case"
"Hang it all" remarked Gerald, " women
never will be satisfied with half the truth -
and ferociously diving his hands into his
pockets, he walked up and down the path
for few moments, kicking the gravel in all
directions, while Sophy looked at him in
mute amazement.
At last he came to her side, saying des-
perately:
Look here, Sopby! am going to trust
to your discretion, partly because it may do
me good to tell you, and partly because I
can't help myself. Do you remember, be-
fore Miss Wallis came, you wished that l
might fall in love with her? Well, l have
done So"
Is that what troubles your"
Yes added to other things"
81 don't know why it shonld"
"You will presently. You see l thought
as have good situation, and one that is
likely to improve, that should be perfectly
justified in asking Clara to be my wife, and
intended doing so the first opportunity l
had"
"Quite right, Gerald. I'm with you SO
far"
Last night, however, just as I was leav-
ing the Office, letter came"
Very remarkable did it walk?"
Nonsense Sophy! be serious for once.
l put it in my pocket, and forgot it until
late last night.
g Complimentary to your correspondent"
Unheeding the interruption, Gerald con-
tinued
1T was from Frank Richards, and in it
he says-but will read you the passage"
THANK you" said Sophy, trying to look
grateful, as Gerald produced the letter, and
read:
congratulate you, old fellow, upon be-
ing in lucks way again. l know Clara
Wallis you mentioned in your last she is a
pretty girl, no end of it, and what is more
at least to poor devil like me-has plenty
of the needful. Make hay while the sun
shines you won't often get such chance.
There are very few heiresses in the market
now don't forget to send me an invitation
to the wedding [ can do the heavy senti-
mental to perfection"
"Ahl" said Sophy, drawing long
breath, as her brother ceased reading, +" if
it Is all like that, it must be an interesting
epistle and instead of taking such sensible
advice you want to run away from the
plum fortune evidently intends for your
benefit"
Don't you understand that this makes
such difference in our respective positions,
that can't ask her to marry me now"
Not exactly" was the grave reply !;
. she might want few days to become ac-
customed to the prospect of such misery,
and would, perhaps, like to indulge in the
of a new dress for the occa-
sion."
Il see it's no use trying to explain any
thing to you, Sophy; yet think you might
spare me little sympathy. My hopes are
all knocked on the head so the only thing
| can do is to keep out of harms way" and
with these words, Gerald, very decidedly
huffed, walked into the house and Sopby,
after gathering few more flowers, walked
to the summer-house, where she threw her.
self into seat, and began industriously
tanning herself with her hat, and indulging
in a small amount of mental calculation.
"A pleasant state of things, truly" she
oa1ilnCnizad 20 / 70 no loft 70 ba tnu
der mercies of burglars, just because my
brother happens to fall in love. Not if 1
know it, Gerald Brookes. Besides, it's all
nonsense. If cared for any one-which
thank goodness! don't-why, money would
make no difference, and | don't believe it
does with Clara. I'll fad out this morn
ing whether she likes him; it will be easy
work to manage him."
Gerald was very moody at breakfast, and
absorbed in the supplement of
the Times" Sophy paid no attention to
him, keeping up conversation with Clara,
whose eyes constantly wandered in the d.
rection OF the quiet reader, who felt her in
curing glance, but would not meet it openly.
Before leaving home, Gerald managed TO
find an opportunity of saying to Sophy:
Il will write to you in the couse Of the
day, and assign some trivial reason for be-
ing out tonight. Say what you like to
Miss Wallis about my absence" And his
sister, after considering it very hard lines to
be obliged to do civility for both, agreed to
his request
How quiet you are !" was Clara's COM
ment on her friends behavior soon after
Gerald had departed. Are you not well,
Sophy?"
Mercy on us my dear, yes. / always
am well. But, if you really must know the
reason I was so quiet, as you call it, | was
over something that Gerald told
me this morning"