The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1880-09-30

Harry if he thought l had been
asleep while he was talking?"
Sophie's blue eyes danced with
suppressed merriment as she gave
two or three heavy breathings, and
followed them up with a nasal ex-
plosion worthy OF an orthodox
deacon. 1t was we'll done-theat-
rically done; and poor Harry sprang
bolt upright-surprised, mortified,
chagrined. Human nature could
stand it 40 longer, and SOPHIE gave
vent 10 her mirth in a burst of tri-
umphant laughter.
''Y o-u little witch-you mischief
you spirit of eviln' exclaimed the
relieved Harry, as he sprang tC her
side and caught her by the arm with
a gripe so hard that it made her
scream. "You deserve a shaking
for your behavior!' Then lowering
his voice, he added gravely: "Win
you never have done tormenting
me? If you love me, can you not
be generous enough to tell me soF
and if you do not am l not. at
least worthy of a candid refusal?
Words sprang to Sophie's lips
that would have done credit to her
womanly nature and made her low
er's heart bound with rapture; for
the whole depth Of her being were
stirred, and drawn toward him as
they never before had to any one
man. But she could not quite give
up her raillery then. She would go
one step further from him ere she
laid her hand in his, and told him
he was dearer than all the world
besides. So she checked the ten
der response that trembled on her
tongue, and fInging off his grasp
with a mocking gesture and a
ringing laugh, danced across the
room to the piano.
She seated herself, then ran her
fingers gracefully over the white
keys, and broke out in a wild def
ant song, that made her listeners
ears tingle as he stood watching
her, and choking back the indIg-
nant words that came crowding to
his lips.
'OODulGs llSICu W hC cdlu,
at length, as she paused from sheer
exhaustion. "Is it generous-is it
Just, to trifle with me so? 10 turn in
TO ridicule the emotions OF heart
that offers you it's most reverent
affections? l have loved you, be
cause under this volatile, surface
character of yours l thought l saw
truthfulness and simplicity-purity
of soul and a warm current of ten
der, womanly feeling, that would
bathe with blessings the whole life
of him whose hand was fortunate
enough to touch it's secret springs.
You are an heiresS, and l only a
poor student; but if that is the rea-
son you treat my suit SO scornfully,
you are less than the noble woman
l thought you"
Sophie's head was ayerted, and
suspicious moisture glistened in her
eyes, as he ceased speaking. All !
why is it that we sometimes hold
our highest happiness SO lightly
carrying it carelessly Ia our hands,
as though it were but dross, and
stalking it all upon an idle caprice?
When she turned her countenance
toward him again, the same mock
ing light was in her eyes, the same
couuettish smile wrcathed her red
lips.
speaking of heiresses, there S
Helen Myrle, whose father is worth
twice as much as mine. Perhaps
you had better transfer your atten
tons to her, Mr.. Ainslee. The diff
! ference in our dowries would no
doubt be quite an inducement, and
possibly she might consider your
case more seriously than l have
done"
Like an insulted prince, Harry
Ainslee stood up before her-the
hot, fiery, indignant blood dashing
, in fierce torrent over his face
his arms crossed tightly upon bls
/ breast. as if to keep his great hear
: from bursting with its uprising IN
, dignation-his lips compressed ant
| his dark eyes flashing. SOPHIE
d cruel Sophie! You added one droI
= too much to your cup of sarcasm
You trespassed upon his forbear
ance one little step further thal
t you would have dared, had yo
r known his proud, sensitive nature
,. Not till he was gone-gone with
n out single word of eXpostulatloI
leaving only a grave 'gOod- by" an
d the memory of his pale face to plea
IT for him, did the thoughtless gil
lf wake to a realization of what sh
e had done. Then a quick, terribl
t, tear shot through her heart, an
" she would have given every curl o
\ her brown head to have had hi
i. | beside her one short momer
N ! longer.
.Pshaw! s'what am L afraid o
,d He will be back again within tweI
a ty-four hours, as importunate
G. ever" she muttered to herself,
n. the street door closed after hlr
lv vet a sigh that was half sob fo
" lowed the words, and could HarI
n have seen the beautiful pair of ey
nd that watched him SO eagerly as
bt went down the long street, or t
ay bright face that leaned away o
o. through the parted blinds with su
nd a wistful look, after he had diss
n peared, it might have been his tn
er to triumph.
lat In spite of SophIe's prophet
: if twenty iour hours did not brl
Gle back Harry. Days matured IN
Mt weeks and still he did not come, 4