New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-09-12
SOPHIE: AN INTERLUDE.
IN TWO CHAPTERS.

aad spent several years IN India, and returned
aOme in disgust at love, life, all things. Or
tourse there was woman al the bottom OF 1t
woman whom | loved passiOnately. / had
known her from early girlhOod, watched her
gradually develop INTO a splendid woman. She
was an orphan her mother died IT her brit /;
Ter father, absorbed in his business, cared but
little fOI her; her stepmotheT tle0tCd her with
roldness, and often with worse. | shielded her
to the best of my power, which IN those days
was but small. She grew 10 love me. and We
were betrothed. ] was only Il poor civil ser
want then. My elder brother Was alive. | was
not much cf a match =; but her father, a weak.
kindly man, sanctioned Cur engagement, ana
was content After year OF waiting, | was
promoted TO 4 post far up country y; and lett,
full of hope and JOY, 10 arrange home Tor my
WIFE Alas other eyes than mine Oehcd my
pearl. a rome NiScount, who having pretty
nigh exhausted all EUOpean sports ana las
times. had come to lnOIa for the greater excite
ment of tiScT-shcOtnE, saw her at a ball Her
rich luXurlant beauty attracted, her cOOl iecep-
ton OF his attentions piqued him.. After fort
nights ardent pursuit. lie offered her his hand
and coIOnet. With what rcsutf One day re
ceived a packet containing all my letters and
presputs; q formal busineSs-lIke letter from
her father. announcing Miss MorewOod's en-
gagement to Lord Rathalan =; and-a line from
Juliet: Walter, am unworthy OF you. Fare
well forever Short, ceranly, and TO the
point! Next day ! received notice OF my
brothers death. | was thus, If not Ilch, at
least independent; and, asking f0r year
leave OF absence, ! started for England as soon
as possible.
Ten years had changed the old home;
Father, mother and elder brother were all
gone only ny sister LII Y, married ana wld-
owed during ny absence, remained. she lNed
In London and with her | took w my abode,
in the hope of finding out some OF ny Old com
uauiOns. Alas they too were changed or gone.
Only one was unaltercd to me, and that was
Harry Severn. Yet. even to him those ten
years had brought change. When l left In 66,
he had Just married graceful. pretty, childish
little gIl-the most wlnsome wee thing l
ever saw. She was gone; and another was
filing her place i'll Sevcms life, II not IN bis
heat
| heard from nv sister that the second Mrs.
Severn was q most superior persOu-a woman OF
large fortune ana high connection and in every
way better wife for my friend than poor little
Valerie de Burgh bad been. Well well; every
one to his taste.
was only a short time in London when
Severn found me out. ] can never forget his
kindly greeting, or the sincere affection which
he manifested for me. \ on must come to us
st once he cried, shaking my hantS rs II he
never meant to let them 90. Make my house
your headquarters. We have lots OF room,
there being no eucumbranCeS am sorry TO say
in the shane of Young ones as vet. But / want
Won TO know and like Mary. have Otter told
her about you. Alfred too. you remember All
And then there Is niece Of Nary and
sophie a little ward of mine, all STAYING with
US We are Jolly party. | can tell you
Solitude. even when enlivened by sister, js
not the best medicine IN the world Tor
wounded spirit. | went 10 the Inns III lew
days.
i grave old. gray headed servant received
me m the door ; and telling me that Mr. and
Mis-. Severn were from home but would soon
)etuIn, ushered me into delightful library
filed with deep tones OF color, sweet Odors and
soltened golden light slhrough half closed
curtains of some delicate texture, the garden
could be seen, glowing with color and redOlent
with perfume, III the afternoon sunshine; and
sound of falling water gave dreamy freshness
10 the whole.
/ stood enraptured for moments then l
strobe TO the window flung back the dainty
curtains, aud started III a1nazement There,
CuIled up III great velvet armchair, lay the
pTettiest child | had ever seen, last asleep.
Her fair faint flushed cheek rested upon the
crimson cushion heI dark curling rings OF han
ian not over il. One dlmpled hand Law open on
her lap; the other touched the carpet, over the
ann OF tine low chair. A book, which had evil
DENLY fallen from her lOOscuCd clasp, lay be-
side The Little rosy hand. | stood and gdzed
upon hei-for | am fond of cm.dren-ln sui.
Prise and admiration. This, then, was Severn
little ward / bent closer 10 examine the
beautiful sleeper. one started awake. her
brown, as her dark hair would lead you 10 sup
pose but glay, liquid, llmpd, brlmiul OF Ire
and swcetuo>s and expression Slrange eyes
for a child bat beautiful beyond compare.
81 "A second or 20 she l0ohct at ne Ni''OUl
moving; then she started T. her feet with Il
li,tle bild-like cry. low did You Gomez !
did not hcar7 she stammered ii sweet silvcry
tones. 49,,
She put back her clustering curls, and looked
al me with queer expression. Have you
been here long she asked, lei eyes dancing
with mlschievous light.
Not very-Only about five minutes or so
r.. eli. strfff a o. az ri
She flushed crimson then drew her little per
son 10 It's full height OF four teet ten or there
about and laughing again, said: won't You
be seated 2 with an assumption OF maidenly
dignity very charming TO behold and mOtlOned
me TO a seat opposite hel couch.
felt rather taken aback by the change III
manner and gesture, aud IetreaIed at once To
the chair she pointed OUT hall signing mat
there were no children nowadays ana sat
down, half yexed, half pleased.
A few moments silence Ia which Only the |
tlnkliag waterfall outside and bird singing |
somewhere amongst the trees, ensued.
You are above talking to children sad |
! Looked up She HI d moved TO the window, |
pnd stood there framed by the trailing clcmatis |
winch wreathcd 1t. | confess sine made lovely |
picture. NO said, wo2 by her grace and
beauty: . ] AIN very iona OF taking " children
wien they are good. -
Talk ONE. Am not good she said softly. |
Yes; very good indeed. ! like good chill
dien-grow quite fond of them, in fact. will
promise 10 grow very fond OF You, If you only
give me the chance
For moment her face crimsoned; and ere
sle recovered her natural tint, a sound of
wheels on the gravel announced the arrival Of
ZONE visitors, Or perhaps the return Of Severn
and his wife With little gesture of silence
70 me, she glded out Of the window, vanishing
amongst the roses; fit home, | thought, Tor such
/ fairy like being As she disappear ed, lifted
lie book she had been reading 10 my SUI
,rlse, it was a volume Of German verse. Fancy
hat chit OF girl reading German
a moment afterward, Severn, his kind, hand