Middletown transcript., 1882-03-03
THE HEROINE.

Sophie johnson was 16. She had
just graduated from a fashionable board
ing-school, and was possessed of all the
accomplishments which go to make up
the fashionable young lady. Her mind
was enriched by the lore Of such novels
as she was prohibited from reading, and
she could converse in French with a
huency that would have aStoniShed a
Partisan. She could thump the piano,
and sing operatic airs with charming
gush, and particularly excelled in those
parts allotted to distressed heroines.
She had taken part in many private
theatricals, and was a perfect mistress
Of stage starts and tragic attitudes.
She possessed sylph-like form and
fine features, and could drop her eyes
or roll them around with a wandering,
distressed look which would have done
infinite credit to the fairest heroine of
medieval romance.
And yet she was not happy.
Why, it will presently appear. 1t
was her mother-her only surviving pa
rent. Cruel and strong-hearted, 'you
will say, but you are very much mis-
taken-and that is just what was the
matter. The old lady was one of those
amiable, simple--minded creatures,
whom everybody loved who believed
in her only child and INDUCED her every
fancy. She was worth $4,000, lived
in country house, spent her winters
in Washington, and was content with
all the world so long as she was not dis
ttrbed in her daily siesta. But alas
she had no winding stairs, nor tapes
tried rooms, nor ghost-haunted towers
in her house. And, worse still, for her
daughters peace Of mind, she persis-
tently refused to enter any protest
against the visits of such young men
as Sophie chose to invite to her house. |
Consequently, notwithstanding So
phie's susceptible heart, the poor girl |
had never fallen in love, and was mis-
cradle. She attended all the parties in
the gay capital, but constantly sighed |
for some noble pirate, with fierce mus
taehe, bro: .zed cheek and glaring eyes
to come and WOO her and win her. and |
carry her off in the dead of night and |
marry her while standing knee-deep in |
the blood of those who would come be-
tween them. She knew that some |
where in this wide, wide world, her
mate was also signing and looking for
her, and she felt that one dav he wonld |
come and bear her away to his castle
II ne had one-or if he was rich only in
the treasures of the mind, SO much the
better, for then she could be persecuted
for his dear sake, be miserable for
time, and finally be forgiven and 90
home and live on the old lady.
Her faith was at last rewarded. One
evening as her eyes were wandering
around the ball room in search of a con-
genial spirit, they were struck-fxed-
by the appearance Of tall, military
looking man, with such mustache as
she had often felt pressed to her lips in
her dreams. 1t was he, and she knew
1t. There was the mustache, the glar-
ing eyes and the cheek-the Corsair
cheek, the cheek of adamant. In an
instant she was madly, desperately in
love.
His eyes met hers.
" Chawles," said he, turning to his
companion, who is that singular look
ing girl with the exaggerated bangs
who is staring this way 50 earnestly p,
" That's Miss Johnson Y was the re-
ply, " the daughter Of that quiet. sleepy
looking old lady over yonder. The old
lady is worth $4,000, and the wild
girl is her only heir. But Door
thing, she is a little touched here ,,
to his forehead.
FIFTY thousand dollars, did YOU savP
Are you sure ~
Absolutely certain. 2
"Well, really, a second look reveals
very attractive about the
glrl-an air softness, a simplicity
that IS extremely fascinating. Pray in
troduce me-. Z"
Sophie saw the. movement and H.
stinetively knew that the same shaft
had pierced his breast as well as hers
and when Colonel Augustus Octayius
Caesar Wilkins was presented she knew
that her fate was sealed. |