The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1886-09-09
BEAUTY'S SECRt1 4
By ALAN MUIR
Author Of "Vaoity Hardware "Golrr
Girls" &c.


How do YOU Know all thisF' Sophia asked.
Her voice was scarcely audible; for she was
now sure that her lover was false.
zone of my little birds told me, the widow
feplied, with iauntiness that siekened poor
Sophia Forget him, dear. Be girl OF
spirit. Treat him as he deserves
"How do you know all this" Sophia re-
peated, putting her hand to her forehead and
speaking in tone Of genuine anguish "Ten
me how ou know it@
"Well dear, if you must hear everything
and perhaps it is better-look here"
The widow drew from her mutf news
paper and opening it, pointed to a marked
paragraph. The paper was an Australian
one, and the paragraph, as will be seen, was
composed with that engaging ease and light
ness of touch which are characteristic OF GER
tain colonial journals.
CARRIAGE ACCIDENT IN THE SUBURBS
Yesterday evening as Percival Brent was
driving Mrs Lanigan to the theatre after a
pleasant lunch in the country, the horses an
away, probably having had too much Moet
& Chandon-a beverage which, though it
never affects the driver, is sometimes known
to have an exciting effect on the steeds.
After a wild career through the streets the
vehicle was turned over close by the theatre
and the occupants thrown into the street,
after viii h., lightened of their load, the ine-
briated animals proceeded to drag the vehicle
to smash with amazing celerity, Young Per-
cival got heavy cut on the left temple, but
Mrs Lanigan, marvellous to tell came off
wholly uninjured In spite OF his bleeding
brow Percival was on his feet again In a mo-
ment and, mindful of the poets advice, he
went to Mrs Lanigan's side, ITO take her up
tenderly," f" and "lift her with care" The news
of the accident and its happy termination
soon spread in the theatre and when Mrs.
aLanigan appeared on the stage the house rang
with plaudits Nobody thought Of poor Per-
cival, his countenance being Of value to HIM
self only, while Mrs. Lanigan's is dear to the
public"
"a word in your ear dear" cried the
widow, when Sophia had finished
And she whispered something at which the
poor girls cheek broke into flame.
"Now, Sophia" she said aloud, "have not
convinced you"
II feel little tired" Sophia answered II
don't know what to think just yet If you
will excuse me, and look in another morning,
l shall be glad"
Certainly, love" the good humored widow
replied, not sorry to be free now that her
work was done. "Don't be cast down. It's
all for the best You will soon get hus-
band Think of Mr. Prendergast, or, better
still, think of that excellent young fellow,
John Done. He is dying for you still; am
sure of it,"
''Look in another day." Sophia said me-
chanically; and the widow took herself off.
Poor Sophia stood silent, just where Mrs
Hands left her, still holding the hateful
paper which had stabbed her to the heart
She was numb and stupid with the blow.
For this, then, she had loved and waited in
accomplishing constancy for nearly six
yearsl Only to learn that her lover was a
rake-satisfied and pleased with the caresses
of light dame like Mrs, Lanigan-unworthy
Of her affection, OF the affection of any true
womanl Had there been any excuse for
him, even had it been the blaming of herself
gladly she would have pleaded it before her
own Judgment now. Had she been married
to him she might have disappointed his ex-
pectation and so driven him to other women
for pleasure. Had they even been meeting
occasionally she might not have been warm
enough, charming enough; twenty excuses
might have been urged on his behalf. Now
the fault must have been all his own. She
had kept her vow and had found the Joy Of
her life in keeping it, If any doubt of him
had crept into her mind at times she had re-
buked it instantaneously. With her whole
soul, morning, noon and night, and with an
almost religious punctuality, she had cher
ished his memory, encircling it with her
warnest memories and her purest prayers
And here he was exchanging her love for the
favors of an actress, who sold her smiles with
as quick an eye to profit as a shopman sells
his wares. The downfall Of Sophia's hopes
was complete, The most refined ingenuity
could not have discovered a more perfect and /
total form of torture. Her whole life was
turned into a wilderness. Her mother was
right. Better live for the world, better marry
for money, better lay hold Of material COM
fort and the pleasures of sense and fashion.
These had no power to break and crush the
heart like lofty ideas refuted by reality, and
devoted hopes crushed by hard fact. With
all these thoughts whirling through her brain
in a struggling crowd, Sophia stood on, stony
and fearless, in the center of the room, until
suddenly the door was thrown open and
Mrs Temples maid came flying in with her
cap Gisordered end dismay in every feature.
"Co ne, miss! come quick" she called out !
"Come up stain missus is going on so queerl
o, don't lose minute, miss, not minuteP