The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1886-09-02

not suspected, aud everybody said she was
such good-humored woman that it was q
pleasure even to see her. Which shows,
reader, what can be done with beautiful set
of teeth, and a smile and a jolly laugh dis
creetly inserted in the talk now and then.
Mrs. Hands was no favorite with Mrs Tenn
pie. That prudent woman, mindful of an
enemy's craft and malice, never said wha.
she thought of the widow; but she knew, and
the widow knew. In her way, Mrs. Hands
feared the superior and more scientific world
ling, as was shown by the contraction of her
smile and the reduction of her laughter when
ever Mrs Temple was by, But Sophia liked
the widow and thought she had a good heart
One morning, about four months after the
Done episode, Mrs. Hands called on Sophia;
and there was to be seen on her face re-
markable solioitude and depression, so much,
that Sophia asked, after little casual talk,
il enything had disturbed her.
disturbed mel" the widow exclaimed. 10,
Sophia, my heart is bleeding this morningp
"For what" Sophia asked "For anybody
know"
"For yourself, dear girl Now will not
keep you in suspense. Is it not true--I know
it is true-that you are still in your heart
keeping up with the clergyman's son, Percival
Brentg'
Sophia turned as white as death. Two OF
three strange whispers about Percival had
reached her ears from different quarters in
the last three weeks.
"Have you any news of him? Is he ill9"
she asked, and yet illness was not what she
feared
Sophia, dear girl" the widow said, re-
garding her with eyes that absolutely moist
ened-by what art or emotion l know not,
nor could the widow have told herself
"Percival Brent is a bad young man-un-
worthy of you-unworthy Of your love"
"What do you mean" Sophia asked, draw
ing herself up with kind of proud rebuke,
which yet had a threatening of tears in its
very indignation. "Nothing bad can be true
of him."
"Nothing good, Sophia" the widow re-
piled, shaking her head religiously. at is
sad for me to tell it to you, but it Is my duty,
dear-and my privilege, too; for who would
see you sacrificed to such fellowF
"You must not talk so, " Sophia said, in a
less resolute tone.
"In the first place, dear, he has not been
successful in his trade-business, whatever
you call it, He has lost everything-or the
person with whom he was in partnership has
lost everything, or has died, or something un-
lucky anyhow-Brent is nowhere at all in
money matters"
"That he cannot help" Sophia said, and her
heart revived
"Perhaps not, dear; but he could help being
idle, being fond of fast company, being fond
of drink-or, at least, of being atplaces where
people do drink-and all that sort of thing.
This has been his ruin, for ruined he is"
'1 don't see much in what you say" Sophia
replied. "Whenever a young man fails in
life, people are ready to blame him, and ready
to say, What could you exrectF and all that
ayes; but smoking, dear-drinking-fast
societyr
"Wel he always smoked, and he always
drank wine" Sophia answered hotly. II
suppose once he has taken little too much,
and of course spiteful people say that he
drinks and has ruined himself by it,"
Had she really spoken her whole mind she
would have said: zone offense he has never
committed-he has never been false to me;
and therefore hiS peccadilloes shall be for.
given"
"Sophia, Sophiap the widow exclaimed,
"there is more than that. How young you are
to think that such things ever go alonel Per-
cival is-well, my dear, he is not over partic-
ular about his morals, and that's the long and
short of it!'
"Tell me all you know" Sophia exclaimed,
turning on her visitor almost 6ercely, and
with eyes that enforced an instantaneous re-
ply.
"Well, then, my DEAR he has been untrue !
to you"
"Marriedp Sophia gasped, "to-to Bessie !
WaTen~
Ito be COntinued)