The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1889-12-05
Sophy's Transgression.
BY MARY T. FARNSWoRTH.

She Slgsy ,msel of eighteen
with luS& brown nair, eyes of the
velvcty browl bat you ses in ript
chestnut that klst buzz its burr, and
a bright complex worse fol
a few touches of hssl urn. And
her dress, though only - shilling calico,
was tastefully made, and she wore d
"butterfy bow" of rose-colored ribbon
at her collar, and a carmine- blossomed
clove-pink in her hair.
Uncle Joshua shook his head gravely.
"Child," said he, "you know, before
hand, what my answer will be-"
But, uncle, all the Bates girls are
going"
"Well. let them go. I'm not RESPONSE
ble for Siah Bates's girls. But am for
YOU, and don't approve of these balls.
Now don't tease me any more. When
I've said no, no it shall be.
And Sophy Allerton went back to strain
the nights milking into the row of glitter
ing milk pans that stood on the snowy
buttery shelves, with eyes too full of re-
bellious tears to see what she was about.
Uncle Joshua Hale and his niece lived
all alone in the old yellow farmhouse
under the butternut trees. Uncle Joshua
was sixty-year old bachelor, VINO passed
his time alternately between bed and
chair, helpless paralytic, so far as his
lower limbs were concerned. But, as he
was wont hopefully 10 observe. he wasn't
paralyzed at the top, and by the aid of a
sturdy man of-all-work, who came before
daylight, and went home at night, when
the chickens climbed their roosts, the
farm progressed bravely.
Il aint niser,' said Uncle Joshua
"but kind O want to leave 4 little suth-
in to my sisters orphan child. Sophy
aiut one to rough it much, and mean
she shall be provided for when I'm
gone.
Uncle Joshua took up his paper and
began to unfoldA&s columns as Sophy
crept spiritlessly away.
''It goes to my heart to tnwart her, l"
said he, "but taint right to let her get
into the way of running to such places.
A girl as is all alone in the world, like
my Sophy, poor lamb, can't be too care
full. She'll pout little at tirst-it's only
natural she should-and then she'll see
that her old uncle was in the right of it,
after ALL"
In the meanwhile, Sophy was sitting
on the back kitchen door-sill, listening
to whip-poor-will repeating its plain
tive refrain on the edge of the maple
swamp below, and watching, as well as
she could through her tears, great
golden star lift its shield through the
purple of the midsummer horizon.
When, all of sudden, Obadiah Car
stairs. the hired man, came upon her
like shirt sleeve vision--for no mortal
ever saw Obadiah with a coat on between
the months of April and November.
'I've fetched ham up from the
smoke house. said he; "and Squire
Martin is goin' to lemme hev fore-quar-
ter OF lamb for Wednesday,
EYES," said sophy, listlessly, sits all
right, / dare say"
But instead of going into the house to
help Uncle Joshua to bed, as Sophy en-
pected he would, Obadiah shifted him
self from one leg TO the other, like
meditativc fowl.
''Goiu' to be great doins down to
Swamp Basin, hear" said he. "To-
morrer night. aint it,"
81 believe 50" Sophy answered.
"You're goin', suppose2"
81 don't know why you should sup
pose so,' retorted Sophy, somewhat
tartly.
"Well. | vumm said Obadiah. "You
amt a-goin'. them There's to be tew
fddles and cornel; and Squire Dicker
mans old barn is flied up with flags and
evergrecns and pink cambria festoons so
as We wouldn't know it; and hundred
candles, all burnin' at once.'
"Unclc Joshua don't approve OF such
things sighed Sophy.
"All the young folks is goin',' per-
sisted her Jobs comforter. cold man
thinks dreadful sight of you. Ishould
s'pose he'd let you CO.
"Well, he won't, then, and there's no
use talking any more about it," said
sophy, rising and goiSa A' into the
house, with some ma .Sf temper.
"Wcll,I yum" Eh repeated Obadiah
Carr carstoirs' lookinVd at the big so'ds"
Not more "a atory was Lizzie Lark
spur, the prA laughter of the nearest
neighbor, two good miles away, when
she came the next day to borrow Sophy's
pattern for lace fichu.
"Not going? said Lizzie. "Why,
everybody will be there! Albert Bates
and Mark Lennard, and--dear me, Sophy,
what does make your uncle so cranky"
'I don't know, I'm sure" said Sophy,
despondently.
''Look here!' cried Lizzie, lowering,
her voice to mysterious whisper,
there's no earthly reason you should stay,
at home, unless you please, Sophy Aller'
tor ~
II don't understand what You mean,
Lizzie!"
Doesn't your uncle Joshua always re-
tire at eight o'clock'"
"Of course he does. What Of that"
"Why, how on earth can he know
where you are, when he is asleep and
ireaming9 Slip quietly out on the sly
III wait until half-past nine fcv you; thu
fun will be only just beginning. AND
you can be at home and in bed long be
fore your crusty old uncle is awake in th;
morning"
Sophy WINGED little at this. Vexed
nc sbc was ot that nortlcular moment