Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-12-20
r EALITY.
Bv Charles Reade.

chants clerk. Their attachment was
sullenly permitted by Miss jackson s
parents, but not encouraged; they
thought she might look higher.
Sophia said, "Why, la! he was
handsome, and good, and loved her,
and was not that enough?"
They said, "No; to marry Beauty, a
man ought to be rIch-''
"Well," said Sophy, she is on the
way to it; he is in merchants Office. y
'sIt is long road, for he is only a
clerk"
The above is a fair specimen of the
dialogue, and conveys as faint an idea
of it as specimens generally do.
All this did not prevent Ephriam and
Sophia from spending many happy
hours together.
But presently another figure came on
the scene-Mr. Jonathan Clarke. He
took fancy to Miss Jackson, and told
her parent SO, and that she was the wife
for him. if she was disengaged. They
said, "Well, now, there is young clerk
after her, but the man was too poor to
marry her"
Now, Mr. Jonathan Clarke was a
wealthy spectators so, on that informa-
ton, be felt superior, and courted her
briskly. She complained to Ephraim.
ssThe idea of their encouraging that fat
fool to think OF mel" she said. She
called him old, though he was but thirty
and turned his person and sentiments
into ridicule, though, in the opinion OF
sensible people, he was comedy man,
full Of good sense and sagacity.
Mr.. Clarke paid her compliments.
Miss Jackson laughed, and reported
them to Slade in a way to make him
laugh him too.
Mr.. Clarke asked her to marry him.
She said no; she was too young to
think of that. She told Ephraim she
had fatty refused him.
MIR. Clarke made her presents. She
refused the first, and bIushed, but was
prevailed on to accept. She accepted
the second and the third without first
refusing them.
She did not trouble Ephraim Slade
with any portion of this detail. She
was afraid it might give him pain.
Clarke was there every day. Ephraim
scolded. Sophia was cross. They
parted in anger. Sophia went home
and snubbed Clarke. Clarke laughed
and said, stake your time" He stuck
there four hours. she came round and
was very civil. ...
Matters progressed. Ephraim always
unhappy. Clarke always jolly. Par
ents in the same mind.
Clarke urged ner TO name the day
"Never p ~s..r go
Urged her again.
''Next year.
Urged her again before the parents
They put in their word, ''Sophia, don t
trife any longer. You are OVERRIDING
it."
sThere, there. do what you want
with me. % said the girl; 81 am miser
able p and ran out, crying. a# f.
Clarke and parents laughed, and
stayed behind, and settled the day.
When Sophia found they had settled
the day, she sent for Ephraim, and
told him with many tears. ''Oh =
said she, SO you little know what [ have
suffered this SIX months" b. .
"My poor girl - said Ephraim.
''Let us elope, and end it. -eeE
:" What! My parents would curse
mel" 3f-a3s5's 5a< q! = -
"Oh, they would forgive us in time
"Never, You don't know them. No
my poor Ephraim, we are unfortunate
We can never be happy together. We
must Dow. [ should die if this wen
on much longer -. -.a...-lI &C.,.
g You are tickle, faithless jade =
cried Ephrairn in agony. '7
"God forgive you, dear 2" said she
and wept silently. q .asTga l.aes9oas
Then he tiled to comfort her. Their
she put her arm around his neck, anC
assured him she yielded to constraint
but her heart could never forget him
she was more unhappy than he, anG
Always should be. 50 s@
They parted with many tears on both
sides, and she married Clarke. At bel
earnest request Slade kept away from
the ceremony. by that means she was
not compelled to wear the air of vic
tim, but could fling the cloak OF illu
sionary happiness and gaiety over hel
aching heart: and she did it, too. She
was as gay bride as had been seen fol
some years in these parts. pass aa,zls
Ephraim Slade was very unhappy
However, after bit, he comprehendei
the character of Sophia Clarke ne,
Jackson, ana even 1mlIeGou ner. She
had gone in for money, and SO did he
only, on the squares detail she hat
omitted. Years went on; he became
partner in the house instead of clerk
The girls set their caps at him. Blu
he did not marry. Mrs. Clarke OBJ
served this, and secretly approved
Say she had married, that was no rea
son why he should. Justice de-
fena7aes! .H aLsll 7
Now you will observe that by all the
laws of fiction Mrs. Clarke ought te
have learned to her cost that money
does not bring happiness, and ought te
have been miserable, especially when.
ever she encountered the pale face OIL
him whose love she valued too late.
Well, she broke all these laws, and
went in for life as it is. She was hap
,,ior thon some wives Her husband