The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1876-06-22
SOPHY'S LOVERS.

Sophy Glare was a velvet eyed bru-
nette, with a rich, soft complexion,
black eyebrows that were arches of jet,
and the sweetest and most kissable OF
mouths. Not at all the sort of girl
that is cut out for an old maid. Sophy
Glare never felt that she had any mis-.
sion which rendered it advisable that
she should remain single. She had
always had soft, maidenly dreams of
husband of her own, and a home
which she would make beautiful for
him. And SO, when Burgh Richmond
finally proposed to her. her heart gave
great answering jump, and she said
'Yes,' as if it were the one word she
loved best in the world.
Burgh looked down upon her, from
the towering attitude of his six feet
odd inches, with sort of q loving
pride.
Il know of a pretty little gem of a
brown stone house, that can lease at
bargain Said Mr.. Richmond. There
is bay window in front-and the
hall floors are tesselated marble!
'Oh, how splendid = said Sophy.
1t isn't large, but then we don't
want a barn Of housep
No. to be sure said Sophy.
There's only you and me, you see,
and my Aunt Jefferson, who has been
good enough to say she will live with
us until you get little into the groove
of housekeeping
And papa. and mamma, and Cousin
Kate timidly added Sophy.
Mr.. Richmond opened his eyes and
mouth simultaneously.
'Eh quoth he.
Il couldn't be parted from papa and
mamma pleaded Sophy, lifting up
the great liquid eyes that were so elo-
quent in their sparkle. 'Papa has
been out of business ever since his
eyesight failed, and they are both de-
pendent on me. And Cousin Kate is
lame, and can't support herself.'
Burgh Richmond drew back ever so
slightly but to Sophy Clare it made a
deep, deep gulf between them that
might never be overpassed.
fAnd you expect me to adopt all
this family into our new household? p
said he almost roughly.
'Burgh!
'Halt, lame and blind! = he added,
with forced laugh. No, no, Sophy;
don't be unreasonable. 1 marry you,
not the whole family. No man could
consent to such an arrangement
Sophy rose up, quiet but firm.
sAnd what sort of a wife would she
make. Burgh, who would calmly and
heartlessly abondon the parents who
have brought her up, to be happy in
the splendors of a home they were not
privileged to share p
Every woman does it,
Not every one is situated as l am,
Burgh! But pray don't suppose that
hold you to promise given under
a misapprehension. You are frce-as
free as ever you were
'Sophy,' pleaded Burgh Richmond,
don't be foolish, Just think what you
are giving up, and all for mere
whim.'
DO you call it a whim, Burgh
Then indeed, our natures are wider
apart than dreamed of, and, perhaps
upon the whole it is best that we
should part.
'Now, look here, Sophy, don't be
l wouldn't mind max
ing the old people a moderate allow
ance to board out somewhere; but as
for the lame cousin
Sophie's eyes darted dusk, lighting
her cheeks crimson.
Stop just where you are, Burgh!
cried she. My father and mother are
not to be treated like worn out pau
pers, TO be farmed out, at SO much a
week, and may God even SO do unto
me if prove false to the trust lie has
to me in the person of poor
Kate Parker
Now, Sophy, you had
'I think il is quite useless TO discuss
the matter further, Burgh. We shall
always be friends | hope-but never
more. | need keep you no
longer
And she dismissed him as imperial
ly as if she had been a queen, instead
of poor little teacher in the public
school at six hundred year.
Nevertheless she cried very heartily
a fortnight or so afterwards. when she
heard that he was engaged to Hetty
Wardwell, who had plump. mean
ingless face like Chinese doll, and
who had expectations from vinegar
tempered aunt.