Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1888-05-17

tirely outlived the age of sentiment,
and when once you see Sophy Adri-
suce, you will forgive any seeming
inconsistency on my part
'Sophy Adriance!'
Was this the way poor Charley's
blue-eyed fancee was serving him,
while he was across the Atlantic, try
ing to earn money for her sake?
My heart rebelled against the fck.
leness of woman.
/ went straight to the house.
1t was possible l might be mislead
by a similarity of name, although
even that was unlikely.
rs Miss Adriance at homer l asked
of the girl that answered the bell.
"La, no, sir. Miss Sophy's spend
ing a few weeks with a friend at
s." she answered promptly.
That was enough.
l went home, and inclosing Bull
ions letter IN another envelope, di-
rected it to poor Charley Dresden's
address, adding few words of my
own, wherein endeavored to mingle
consolation and philosophy as aptly as
possible.
"It's an ungracious thing for me to
do, sending this letter." wrote l, "but
l believe ii to be the par. of true
friend to undeceive you as promptly
as possible. Bullion is very rich.
Sophy is but fallible mortal, after
all. Be man, Dresden, and remem-
ber that she is not the only woman in
the world who would rather be an old
mans darling than a young mans
slave"
And then ! wrote, curtly declining
the invitation of old Bullion.
1t was but few weeks subsequent
| ly that an elegantly dressed young
lady entered my room.
l rose in some surprise, but the in
slant she threw up her thick tissue
veil, / recognized the soft blue eyes
and damask rose cheeks of Sophy
Adriance
"Oh, Mr.. Mottiemore!,.' she cried,
piteously, II know you won't mind
my coming to you, because you seem
Just exactly like father to me-"
1 WINGED little at this.
But / have received such letter
from Charley, I thought perhaps you
could explain it to me. Oh, have
been so wretched And indeed I didn"
deserve it.
She gave me -blotted letter,
and then sat down to cry quietly on
the corner of the sofa, until such a
time as l should have finished its
perusal.
1t was fit mirror of Charley Dres-
den's impetuous nature, full of bitter
reproaches, dark innuendoes, hurling
back her troth and limiting gloo ming
ly at suicide.
When | read it. scarcely won
dered at poor Sophy's distress.
What does he mean, Mr.. Mottie-
more, asked Sophy, plaintlveiy, when
he accuses me of deceiving him. OF
selling myself to the highest biddert
Oh, it's SO dreadful.
1 slowly folded the letter, and
looked severely at her
Miss Adriance,' said I, gravely, 1T
strikes me you are trying to play a
double part here. The afianced bride
of Benjamin Bullion ought hardly to
retain the allegiance of poor Charles
Dresden into the bargain
Il don't understand you,' said
Sophy, looking wistfully at me.
Are you not to become, it not al
ready, the wife of Mr.. Bullion the
banker?' / asked sternly.
ooh, dear, no, said Sophy. That's
mamma
'Eh7' gasped l.
Its mamma answered Sophy
She's to be married next week
Didn't you know it?'
I stared straight before me.
Well, I had got myself into pref
! ty pickle by meddling officiously il
affairs that didn't concern me.
"Look here, Miss Adriance, said l
II will tell you about it,
So did.
: l described old Bullion's letter, my
own false deductions therefrom, anc
the rash deed ] had committed il
sending the bankers correspondence
: to Charley Dresden"
sAnd now, said /, "do you wonde
that he is indignant
Sophys face grew radiant.
But there's no harm done, sale
she; "no real harm, I mean because
I've written him a long lettel
about mamma and Mr.. Bullion, which
he must have received almost the mex
mail after he scnt off this cruel, crue
} sheet Of reproaches. And pray Mr.
Mottiemore don't look so woe-begon'
she added, kindly.
sYour mistake was natural enough.
Sophy was true prophet.
There was no real harm done.
The next month brought a letteI
} full of entreaties to be pardoned, anc
} a brief, brusque note to me, which
told me, not actly in so many words