Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1878-07-31

the parted blinds with such = y istful
110ok, ~ he disappeared. II might have
been his turn to triumph.
/ In spite Of Sophie's prophecy, twenty
four hours dill 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.
| ,ordingly. In fact. she did as almost
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 80 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 her
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.
"Will you 60 into the garden with
me, Kate" she asked, in trembling
voice, of her sister one day, about
a month after her trouble with Harry;
II have something of importance to
tell you"
"Going away, darling, and 1 will
be with you in few moments" re-
piled Kate, casting n 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 arpOr. and
f1inging herself down on a low seat,
buried her head among the cool vines,
and gave herself up to proxysm 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.
20, Kate, KateW she cried, in the
agony of her repentance, am per-
fectly wretched. You don't know why,
though you have come very near
guessing two or three times. Harry
and I"
Here convulsive sob interrupted her,
and the hand upon her mead passed
over her dsordered curls with a gentle
soothing motion.
"Harry and I'-another sob-"quar-
relied two or three weeks ago. was
wilfnl and rude, just as it was natural
for me to be, and he got angry. don't
think he is going to forgive me, for he
has not been here since"
Sophie felt herself drawn in a
closer embrace, and was sure Kate
pitied her.
Il would not have owned it to any,
body if it had not been just as it u.s." she
continued, rubbing her little white hands
into her eyes; but l think I love him
almost as I do you and father and
mother"
/ A kiss dropped on Sophie's glossy
head, and tighter was she held. She
wondered that Kate was so silent, but
still kept her face hidden in the vines.
He asked me to be his wife," she
continued, asked me as nobody else
ever did--in such manly way, that he
made me feel as though ought to have
been the one to plead instead of him.
could not bear that, and 1 answered
him as ! should not He thought it was
because he was poor and l was rich;
and all the time l was thinking would
rather live in cottage with him than
in the grandest palace in the world with
any other man. only l was too proud to
tell him so to his face. What can / dol
Tell me, Kate, you are much better than
am, and you never get into trouble. !
am sure l shall die if you don't" And
Sophie wept anew.
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 o.
Sister Kate, but Harry Ainslee.
Sophie declares to this day that she
has never forgiven either of them
though she has been Mrs. Ainslee near
ly two years.