Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1878-10-10

reason why you treat me so scornfully,
you are less the noble. womann that ]
thought you" - ''>'', '-s1 -. .-' *>' ''
Sophie's head was averted, and sus-
picious moisture glistened in her eyes as
Harry ceased speaking. All! why is it
that we sometimes hold our highest hap
piness so lightly-carrying it carelessly
in our hands, as though it were but dross,
stalking it all upon an idle caprice.
Then she turned her countenance to-
ward him again, the same hooking light
was in her eyes, the same coquettish
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 attentions to
her, Mr.. Ainslee. The difference in our
dowrles would no doubt be quite an in
ducement, and possibly she might con.
slder your case more seriously than
have DONE" -
Like an insulted prince, Harry Aims
lee stood up before her-the hot fiery in
dlgnant blood dashed in fierce torrent
over his face--his arms crossed tightly
upon his breast, as if to keep his heart
from bursting with uprising indign alton
his lips compressed and his dark eyes
flashing.
Not till he had gone-gone without a
single word of explanation, leaving only
grave goodbye" and the memory Of
his pale face to plead for him-did the
thoughtless girl wake to realization of
what she had done. Then quick, ter
rible fear shot through her heart, and she
would have given every curl on her
brown head to have him beside her one
short moment longer.
"Pshaw! what am I afraid off He
will be back again within twenty. four
hours and as importunate as ever" she
muttcrred 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 eagerly as he
went along the street, or the bright face
that leaned away out through the parted
blinds with such wistful look as he dis
appeared, it might have been his turn to
triumph.
In spite of sophie's prophecy. twenty
four hours did not bring back Harry.
Days matured into weeks and still he
did not come, nor in all that time did she
meet him. And now she began to think
herself quite martyr, and acted accord
ingly. In fact, she did almost what any
heroine would have done under the cir
cumstances-grew pale and interesting.
Mariana began te suggest the delicacies
to tempt Sophie's palate. "The poor
dear child was getting so thin" In vain
Sophie protested that she had no appe-
tite.
In vain papa brought dainty gifts and
piled up costly presents before his pet.
A faint smile or distracted "thank YOU
was the only recon pense. If sister Kate
suggested that Harry's absence was in
any manner connected with her altered
demeanor, Sophie would toss her ring.
letted head with an air Of indifference,
and go away and cry over it hours at a
time. Everybody thought something was
the matter with Sophie among
the rest
Her suspense and penitence became
unsupportable at last. Sister Kate who
had come so near the solution of the mvs-
Ptery--she knew ali, so said Sophie perhaps
she could advise her what to do, for to
give up Harry seemed every day more
and more of an impossibility
"Will you 60 into the garden with
me, Kate9" she asked, in a trembling
voice, Of her sister one day, about m onth
after her trouble with Harry; II have
something OF Importance to tell you"
$50 away, darling, and I will be with
you in a few moments" replied Kate,
casting searching glance at Sophie's
| flushed cheeks and swollen eyes.
Running SWIFTLY along the garden
paths, as if from fear of pursuit, Sophia
turned aside into her favorite arbor, and
| dinging herself down on low seat, bur
led Der head among the cool vines, and
gave herself up to paroxysm of passion
ate grief. Soon she heard steps approach
| ing, and an arm was twisted tenderly
about her waist, and warm hand was
laid caressingly on her dropping head.
"Oh, Kate, Kate!' she cried, In the
agony OF her repentance, "I'm perfectly
wretched. You dent know why, thong
you have come very near guessing two or
three times. Harry and T."
Here a convulsive sob interrupted her,
and the hand upon her head passed over
her disordered curls with q gentle
smoothing motion.
'Harry and I'-another sob-auarrel.
ed two or three weeks ago. was wilfu]
and rude, just as was natural for me to
be, and he got angry. 1 don't think he
is going to forgive me, for he has not
been here since,"
Sophia felt herself drawn up in close,
embrace, and was sure Kate pitjed her.
II would not have owned it to any body
if it had not been just as it u.s." she con
tinued rubbing her little white hands in.
to her eyes; "but think I almost love
him almost as I do you and father an0
| mother.
A kiss dropped on Sophie's glossy
head, and tighter was she he'd, She
wonde cred that Kate was 80 silent, but
still kept her face hidden IN the vines.
"He asked me to be his wife," she con
tinued, 'asked ME as nobody else eve1
did-in such manly way, that he made
me feel as though ought to have been
the one to plead instead of MIN. I could
not bear that, and I answered him as
should not. He thought it was because
he was poor and was rich; and all the
time was thinking I would rather live
in cottage with him than IN the grand
est palace in the world with any othe,
man, only I was too proud to tell him sc
to his face. What can I do9 Tell me
Kate, you are much better than am, and
you never get into trouble. I am sure
shall die if you DON'T" And Sophie
wept away. .>,........ o..
s'Look up, dear, and I'll tell you
Sophie did look up with little start
and the next moment, with little scream
leaped into the arms-not of sister Kate
but Harry Ainslee. ;
Sophie declares to this day that she
has never forgiven either of them, though
she has been Mrs. Harry Ainslee nearly
two years.
WHAT the Hired Man Sang. =
Gentry was wont to employ singular
method of slackening or quickening the
pace of walking companion 10 suit hi!
| own inclination 6 To aav ~ he would