Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1886-06-18


She gave one hasty glance in the mirror to
zee that she was fit to be 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-looking
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,
weatherbuTnt, stronger looking, handsomer
than ever. She was ready in her heart-sick-
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. Lanigsn.
Why he had waited that moment l 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
sprang forward, with his arms stretched
to take Sophia to his breast; but that
alF space of waiting gave jealousy time to
%ect a barrier before her heart. She would
even then have given the world 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 a
passion of grief or disappointment
"Oh, l can't, l can't, l can't!" she cried, in a
heartbroken voice.
The room was half in darkness, and Per-
cival by no means understood the true cause
of her agitation He came to her side, and,
kneeling, took her in his arms without q
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 he had taken her so. 1t was not her
doingl 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-not many-are born in this
world who are honest by nature. Earth
sprung honesty I'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-
&eaimed in their aspect. Such was Pereival
6fent. 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 IN 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
a little surprise, a little sadness in the ex-
preston; but the clear, strong gaze could
never have come from any but a true man,
Sophia felt it. Before he opened his lips she
knew she had misiudged 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 inpatient to expiate her fault
that she was going to kiss him first. He
gently held her back. b.
Sophia" he said, "do you remember the
day we said good-by at the Beeches9"
She nodded her head in answer. She could
\ not speak. Her eyes were running over.
II could not say good-by. I was too broken
oazfar too broken"
She pressed his hand to III him how well
she remembered all