The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-05-29
CHAPTER ".
STILL ABOUT MISFORTUNE.

STILL ABOUT MISFORTUNE.
Percival called upon Sophia that afternoon,
and, for some wise reason, Mrs. Barbara Tenn
pie allowed him to see her alone Indeed, the
little woman was never other than kind to
her daughters, and, being sure that Sophia's
madness could not last, she resolved not to
seem tyrannical So she let the boy and girl
have it all to themselves.
Percival, impulsive in his wretchedness,
told Sophia everything in breath. He was
stout hearted enough to hide his grief pretty
well, and he hastily assumed, as a kind of pos
tulate of the whole conversation, that Sophia
would think of nothing but of giving him up.
Thus he raised in her light sweet petulance,
which caused her to leave his dark illusion
unscattered for while.
81 shall go out to Australia again, and be-
gin life" he said with a manful air
She could not look at him, or she would
have been in his arms so she stood half
turned from him with downcast eyes, and be,
watching her, felt his heart sink. He had
family hoped for other things.
"Yes, shall go out TO Australia again" he
repeated, SO sadly that Sophia could hardly
even for an instant bold herself back. 1T is
a fine climate he added, trying to seem UNI
concerned again.
"You will meet some girl out there she
answered in the very exultation of her ny
poTisy, land yon will like her very we'll
Il shall never love any one again. he said
gravely: and his voice grew unsteady at the
last word. "Only you" he added, in a vet
more shaking voice That bit of unsteadi
ness finished Sophia off
{. l,~f- H. ,.al l.
nothing more of you; and then go round and
round the world, and shall wait here faith
| fully till You come hack
So her little bit of deceit was over and she
was sobbing in his arms, telling him that he
was ten thousand times dearer TO her now
| because she could show her love to him; and
| that no other man should ever call her
| his own, with twenty ether of those silly
| speeches made on such occasions: some OF
which, as declaring the nobler impulses oil
| the heart that God has made. will be remeru-
| bered, doubt not, when ten thousand human
| frailties are blotted out of the book of hi
remembrance. And Percival holding the
lovely girl in his arms, felt how little he had
lost, and how much he had gained in that
very loss; and he realized something Of thu
|
said that there are times when in the very
loss of life, we find life anew-life which can
not perish and which cannot be defiled.
| Therel They spoke no more, not another
| sentence for many minutes, but stood folded
in each others arms, mingling tears, enrap-
tured, exchanging by a thousand fond prs
sures, heart against heart, emotions, VOWS
| protestations, which the narrow channels d
4 speech can never convey.
| You are all the world to me" he said al
| last
IAN the world, am Il" she answered softly
| 80 Percy, Percyln
| And you will go on loving me, Sophia =
| "For ever and ever"
1 Better or worse-richer or poorer
| Yes. till death us dc part nothing elsi
shall-neyer, Percy"
So it went on, silence and speech alternating
for full an hour. Mrs. Barbara Temple wa,
a wise woman, but | somewhat doubt liz
astuteness of her policy on that particular
afternoon
| ITO be continued