Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1878-08-01

any man.
But she could not quite give up her
raillery then. She would go one step
farther from him ere she laid her hand
in his, and told him he was dear than
all the world beside. So she checked
the tender response that trembled on
her tongue and finging off his grasp,
with hooking gesture and a ringing
laugh, darted across the room to the
piano.
She seated herself, ran her fingers
gracefully over the keys, and broke out
in u wild, brilliant, defiant song, that
made her listeners ears Jingle as he
stood watching her, and choking back
the indignant words that came crowd
ing to his lips for utterance.
"Sophie, listen to mel" he said at
length, as she paused from sheer ex-
haustion. "Is it generous-is it Just to
tritie with me SOTO turn into ridicule
the emotion of heart that offers to you
the most reverent affections? | have
loved you, because beneath this volatile
surface character of yours, | thought |
saw truthfulness and simplicity, purity
of soul, and a warm current of tender.
wamanly feelings that would battle with
blessings the whole life of him whose
hand was so fortunate as to touch its
secret springs. You are an heiress,
and | only poor student; but if that is
the reason why you treat me SO scorn-
fully, you are less the noble woman than
[ thought you"
Sophie's head was averted, and a
o,lIC+n,,a1
eyes as Harry ceased speaking. All!
why is 1t that we sometimes hold our
highest happiness so lightly-carrying it
carelessly in our hands, as though it
were but dress, stalking it all upon an
idle caprice.
Then she turned her cOuntenance to-
ward him again, the same knocking
light was in her eyes, the same coquet-
ish smile breathed from her lips.
"Speaking of heiresses," said Sophie,
"there's Helen Myrtle, whose father is
worth twice as much as mine. Perhaps
you had better transfer your attention
to her, Mr.. Ainslee. The difference in
our doweries would no doubt be quite
an inducement, and possibly she might
consider your case more seriously than
have done"
Like an insulted prince, Harry Aims
lee stood up before her-the hot fiery
indignant blood dashed in fierce tor
rent over his face-hls arms crossed
tightly upon his breast, as if to keep
his heart from bursting with uprising
indignation-his lips compressed and
his dark eyes flashing. Sophie you
added one drop toe much to your cruel
sarcasm. You trespassed upon his for
hearance one little step further than
you would dared, had you known his
proud and sensitive nature.
Not till he had gOne-gone without
a single word of eXpostulatiOn, leaving
only grave goodbye" and the mem
DRY of his pale face to plead for him
did the thoughtless girl wake to u reali-
zation of what she had done. Then a
quick terrible fear shot through hel
heart, and she would have given every
curl on her brown head to have him
beside her one short moment longer.
"Pshaw! what am | afraid of? He
will be back again within twenty-fOu1
hours, and as importunate as ever" she
muttered to herself as the street door
closed after him; yet with a sigh, that
was half sob, followed the words, and
could Harry have seen the beautiful
pair of eyes that watched him so eager
ly as he went along the street, or the
bright face that leaned away out through
the parted blinds with such Il NistfuI
look, as he disappeared. it might have
been his turn to triumph.
In spite of SOphie's prophecy, twenty
four hours did not bring Harry. Days
matured 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 martyr, and acted &C
any heroine would have done under the
circumstances-gr pale and interest
ing. Mariana began to suggest the del
icacies to tempt Sophie's palate. '"The
poor dear child was getting so thin.
In vain Sophie protested that she had
no appetite.
In vain papa brought dainty gifts and
piled up costly presents before his pet
A faint smile or distracted "thank
you was the only recOmpense. If sis
| ter Kate suggested that Harry's absence
was in any manner connected with hel
altered demeanor, Sophie would toss
her ringletted head with an air of SUI
preme Indifference, and go away and
cry over it, hours at time. Every
body thought something was the matter
with Sophie-Sophie among the rest.
Her suspense and penitence became
insupportable at last. Sister Kate, who
had come SO near the solution of the
true mystery-she knew all, so said
Sophie; perhaps she could advise her
what to do, for to give up Harry seemed
every day more and more of an impossi-
bility.
CIVIL you go into the garden with
me, Kate" she asked, in trembling
voice, of her sister one day, about
a month after her trouble with Harry;
Il have something Of Importance to
tell YOU"
"Going away. darling, and [ will
be with you in few moments" re-
piled Kate, casting Il searchful glance
at Sophie's flushed cheeks and swollen
eyes.
Running swiftly along the garden
paths, as if from fear of pursuit, Sophie
turned aside into her favorite arDor and
fiinging herself down on a low seat,
buried her head among the cool vines.
and gave herself up to a proxvsm of
passionate grief. Soon she had heard
steps approaching, and an arm was
twisted tenderly about her waist, and a
warm hand was laid caressingly on her
dropping head.