Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1882-05-26
She Hated q Lie.

It was the last evening of the dying
year, and the beautiful Sophronia Suggs
walked slowly back and forth before her
plate glass, gilt-framed mirror, in the
elegant drawing room Of her slmptuous
home on HarriSonian avenue. Sophro-
MIA Suggs, like the year, was dying
dying to know who and how many of
her admirers would call in to gaze upon
her loveliness, heightened rs it was by
all that her papa's wealth could afford,
and all that the cOstumer's, the hair
dresser's and the painters art could
give.
HIarki What il that? 1t is the bell.
1t is the ring OF Henry Hawkesworthy.
SOphronia knows it well. Henry
Hawkesworthy thought to pull only the
inert matter vulgarly called bell, but
he did more; he pulled at Sophronis
Sugg's heart strings.
| Therefore Sophronia gazed into her
mirror to see that her Montagues, water
waves, friAzes ct a., were in becoming
order. Then she sat herself down be.
side the ormOlu center table, and was ut
once absorbed in the thrilling pages Of
Huxley.
1t were impossible to guess how long
Henry Hawkcsworthy might have stood
gazing at the lovely Sophronia, all un-
conscious of his presence, had it not so
chanced that Henry, who was suffering
from acute catarrh, suddenly sneezed u
sneeze that might have awakened q
thoroughly matIrcd mummy.
| Sophronia looked on and smiled.
Henry had smiled before ne came in.
| "Prithce," spake the fair damSel,
"why comest thou hither, brave gentle
man? Methinks thou art too lavish Of
thy company. 1t was but yestornight,
or mistake HE, that thou vert in this
selfsame apartment"
Exclaimed Henry, interrupting:
| I" Fair maiden, it is, indeed, as thou
sayest. But know the reason thereof.
l am in love-"
"With whOm?"
| "Canst ask it?''
| "Didst not hear mep"
| ~ did,t."
At this Henry knelt himself at the feet
of the fair damsel, first taking the pre-
caution to spread his pocket handker-
chief on the carpet, that he might not
soil his neither integuments.
! AA W Hc TC-
marked, after he had got himself into
proper position for the tableau.
| "Thou lowest me not," said So.
phronia.
"By my troth, fair lady. but dost,"
argued Henry. "Put me but to the
proof, if thou doubtest."
"That will l, and at once" replied
SophrOnia. "Hearken, sir; this is the
death-day of the spent year. How wilt
thou make thyself worthy of one whose
papa holds q seat in the Common Coun.
CLIP"
81 will drink no more!"
Have \ care, sir!"
"Nay, but l swear it!''
"'Tis enough! Begone! Thou hast
pronounced thine own dismissal!''
And Sophronia was gone! gonei
gone!
"By my halidam!" cried Henry, ris-
ing and shaking the dust from his hand
kerchief. "here's a go!"
Then he walked hastily out of the
room, out of the hallway, out OF tho
front door, out into the Night!
Then Sophronia came back into the
room again, and was again immersed
in Huxley, when another ring at the
doorbell aroused her in time to see James
ShorIohn by her side.
"ThOu art come to tell me thou lowest
met" she said, anticipating him.
| "ThOu sayest truly," James replied.
How mayst know thou speakest
from thine hearth" queried SophrOnia.
"Dy this," answered James. "It is
the last day of the year. To-morrow's
morn finds me slave to tobacco no
moro. chew no more forever. havo
sworn it,"
"Ha! hal" laughed Sophronia.
"Thou double-pated knave. Thou
comest to mock me; but hence! Let
| lIarrisOnian Avenue be forever freed
from thy polluting presencel"
James took this as hint to so, and
he went.
Next came Theodore Battlebig. Theo-
dore got on famously till he spoke Of
love.
"Prove it, sirrah!" exclaimed the un-
impressible Sophronia.
| "ThOu knowest," he began, '.that-"
81 know it ALL" said Sophronia, in
terrupting him. "Thou wOuldst say
that thou smokest."
| 81 wouldst."
"That thou smokest no more"
| 81 have sworn it.''
"Thou wilt find the door open, sirrah!
Hence!"
And Theodore was also sent about his
business.
But yet a fourth time did the doorbell
jangle.
Samuel Swansdown entered X. l +. to
Sophronia l.. c.
Indeed, he was come for that purpose; !;
but SophrOnia stopped him.
"Dost smoker" she asked.
| 81 dost," murmured Samuel.
"And chewest?"
"Mea cuipa."
| "And drinkestp"
al should SMILE"
"And hast thou sworn to abandon
either?"
81 hast not"
| "Hast not sworn itP"
"Nary."
"And thou lowest mep"
| 81 dOst."
"Thou art accepted. Thou needst
not speak to papa. He will not thwart
my dearest wish"
|
These stars indicate where they talked
it over. AS Samuel was about to de-
part, Sophronia said, looking into his
happy face
"Sammy, l hate smoking, l hate
chewing, l hate drinking; but there is
one other thing l hate worse than either.
Henry has sworn never to drink more,
and l have discarded him. James
swearest nevermore to chew, and he has
gone hence disgruntled. Theodore hast
plighted his troth henceforth to forego
smoking, and he is gone. Thou hast
promised naught, and art accepted, and
for why?"
"Why is't, dearestp" softly whispered
Samuel.
"Because hate lying" Kissed So
phronia.
Aud then the two fond creatures kissed
each other Happy New Year" kiss.
Boston Transcript.