The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1886-09-16

She gave one hasty glance in the mirror to
see Undt sne was nU TO pe seen, as girls say.
Let female seers prognosticate what they will
from it, she did not care to meet Percival-
even that tickle and false Percival-loolzing
her worst Then the door opened, and he
was ushered in
The two stood looking at each other In
silence for a moment He saw herpale, worn,
and clad in black. She saw him bearded
weatherburnt, stronger looking, handsomer
than ever, She was ready in her heart-sicl-
ness to cast herself in his arms and take her
chance. But just then she saw the mark Of a
cut upon his forehead, and she remembered
the accident with Mrs Lanigan.
Why he had waited that moment cannot
tell. A man never should pause when the
woman he loves shows the smallest sign of
readiness for his embrace. Perhaps Percival
only wished to give the maid time to go
down stairs. 1t is certain that next moment
he sprang forward, with his arms stretched
out, to take Sophia to his breast; but that
little space of waiting gave Jealousy time to
erect barrier before her heart She would
even then have given the void for his EN-
brace, if but it had been honest; but per-
picked, tortured, and at last fairly mad with
jealousy she turned deadly white, and, sob
bing, she cast herself on the couch, where,
grasping the satin cushion in her hands in
passion of grief or disappointment
"Oh | can't can't, can'tn she cried, in
teartbroken voice,
The room was half in darkness and Per-
oval by no means understood the true cause
Of her agitation He came to her side, and,
kneeling, took her in his arms without
word She felt his embrace winding about
her, SO full of strength She was nothing in
his arms! In her wretchedness she felt thank
full that ne had taken her so. 1t was not her
doing she was too frail to resist him. And
so he drew her gently up until their eyes met
again.
Let me tell you a secret, reader, Some
men and women--Hot many-are born in this
world who are honest by nature Earth
sprung honesty 1 should call theirs, to dis
tinguish it from that which is the result of
sound teaching and example. These people
are never so awkward as when they are
doing anything mean or underhand and for
the rest of their lives their honesty is pro-
claimed in their aspect. Such was Percival
Brent He was a simple, Straightforward
man, true by instinct, and the idea Of having
been seriously false to Sophia-or that he
could have been suspected of such an Of
fense-had never crossed his mind, And
now, as he looked down into her troubled
eyes, his own, which were dark brown, and
very speaking in their way, beamed out
steadfast rays Of love and truth. There was
little SURPRISE little sadness in the ex-
preston; but the clear, strong gaze could
never have come from any but true man.
Sophia felt it. Before he opened his lips she
knew she had misjudged him. Already she
was beginning to hate herself for her doubts.
A moment longer he gazed at her, not, as it
would seem, wishing to hurry her kiss; and
she grew so impatient to expiate her fault
that she was going to kiss him first. He
gently held her back.
Sophia y he said, "do you remember the
day we said good-by at the Beeches"
She nodded her head in answer. She could
not speak Her eyes were running over.
~ could not say good-by was too broken
far too broken"
She pressed his hand to tell him how well
she remembered all.
"But,n he continued, in his quiet voice
"while held you to my heart vowed VOW
that when took my lips away from yours |
would never touch womar's lips again until
ours met once more"
He stopped.
al understand, Sophia said to herself, with
a sudden fash of new interest in his words.
"He is going TO confess to me about Mrs.
Lanigan! daresay he only hirted with her
bit; and he must have been very lonely In
Australia; and no doubt she was very for
ward-like an actressI'
All this ran through her mind, not only
faster than it runs from my pen, but fastel
far, reader, than your eye travels along tn,
line of words. Without pause Perciva
went on:
aAnd have kept that vow, Sophia.
wanted to tell you before kissed you Yo
can take your good-by kiss back again; 70
the lips have been all your own since then.
@Oh, wait-wait one momentW she cried.
She wished to collect herself for the CON
ing Joy. Besides, ought she to kiss him wit
her eyes wet with tearsl So she made ready
Then she turned her warm and melting III
upward, and, as she drank his long kiss, 81
sighed sigh Of rapture too deep for word
almost too deep for thought. u am his, az
he ia mine Oh, how that pure embrace r