The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1889-10-31
A warm hand clasped hers as she trem.

der she leaned, ''iIow shall we ever get
up, Mr. NugentN lie smiled. She had,
fortunately escaped the rocks and landed
in little green ledge, unhurt; they We're
about midway, and the ascent was not
very great,
81 think | could carry you up" he
said, quite gravely, "You are not very
great weight, you know She laughed
"No; but think will try to climb it
with your assistance" and she put her
hand in his with child's simplicity.
They were fully ten minutes climbing,
however, for Nugent would not let her
go fast and watched her steps with such
solicitude that her varying color came aud
went more titfully than ever. BY and by
they reached the top.
81 don't know what should have done
without you," Sophy said, with a shy,
happy glance that utterly upset his dis
cretion, 81 wish | could thank you
properly"
''Do not, he said softly; then, quite
abruptly: evil You solve problem that
| have been asking myself all morning!
Do you think in time could make you
love me2"
Every particle of color died out of the
lovely face. ''NIr. Nugent" and she
burst into tears.
''NIy dear child have l frightened
youS" he asked, "A panied look crossing
his face.
"No! yes.n she answered, vaguely,
terrified because of a guilty throb of JOY
in her heart. which she instinctively felt
ought not to be there. ''Oh! you don't
understand! What would Vaughan say?
"Have you given him right to say
Nugent's tone was sterner.
Cat least he would think he had,"
she faltered out, feeling utterly wretched.
MY dear!" he touched the little cold
hand with his lips. "Do not look so
troubled. l must not lose your friend
ship He broke off abruptly. There
stood Hesketh and Florence.
"Truants! We have had such hunt
for you!" cried the beauty, with an angry
sparkle of her eyes. Hesketh slipped
Sopny mana Wltnln MS own.
"How dared that man kiss your hand"
he said, in wrathful undertone, as they
followed the others.
"Vaughan"
"Oh, my love! do not you desert me!
I have no one left in the wide world to
care for me if you do"
And Sophy felt miserably guilty, and
descended into the valley of humiliation,
and Vaughan talked desperate stuff and
persuaded her land himself very nearly
that she was his sole hope of redemption,
while his thoughts, carrying on the
double train that they often do, were
busy specializing whether Sophy Schuyler,
with her pretty face and prospective for
tune, was as rich prize as sallow Aunot
Osborne, with half million already
her own. And for the rest of the day
his mind ran upon a certain old proverb,
which demonstrates the superiority of q
bird in the hand, with curious peril
nacity.
The weather for some days had been
eccentric to the dire bewilderhent of all
weather prophets. Such sitting hot
mornings for October and torrents of
rain at nightfall, with mists and damps
at all hours of the day Therefore,
when Sunday morning dawned without
an actual storm, people congratulated
themselves and declared their intention
of going to church, and being pious, re-
gardless of the dull, heavy'air.
Sophy was late and when she came
down at last she hurled Hesketh off
down the hill and got into church after
service had begun. The little edifce
was very full, and she walked hesitating-
ly up the aisle, feeling grateful when
Nugent's hand quietly opened pew door
next his own for them, and she sunk
down into corner farthest away from
Hesketh.
Florences blue feather nodding in
front of her, beside Nugent's broad
shoulder, distracted her attention for
awhile; but when the choir Joined in a
hymn, solemn and subdued as the music
was, Sophy's head dropped forward be-
tween her hands and she began to weep
softly.
Sitting there, she realized with sud
den flash of misunderstanding that she
could not, must not, marry this man, who
had so bewitched her girlish senses.
Could she ever stand in holy place like
this and give him the most solemn vows
that can be spokens Sophy shivered and
grew faint at the bare thought No, she
would not bear it another day she would
tell Hesketh tonight, and then, if he
wasn't generous enough to release her
she would confess the whole matter tc
grandpa; his wrath was better than the
burden of a secret engagement to a man
whom she was beginning to realize she
did not love.
Suddenly the church seemed to grow
darker; the gaslights on the altar quiv.
cred; the ground beneath her shook vic
lently, and the walls seemed to totter al
their very foundation. The music ended
in prolonged shrek; people sprang tt
their feet; women screamed and tainted
and everybody rushed into the allies
crowdirg and crushing each other il
their panic.
Had the end of the world come! VIVA
was about to happen? Sophy's sou
rushed to her lips in one agonized shrek
"Owen! Owen! Where areyou9 Oh
comep
Hesketh, with the frantic terror whicl
sometimes seizes men in an unknown
danger, was far in advance of the strug
Cling crowd in the aisles; but Sophy'
light form was lifted from the seat, AM
a voice said tenderly:
my own darlingl 1t is slight earth
quake-trust mem
Sophy closed her eyes; in all her ter
for one hot throb of joy thrilled her as n
Joy had ever. done before. If they pei
ished, they would die together. The al
blowing on her face and a gust of raj
drops revived her; she opened her sol
eyes.
'Owen, before we die, just let me tel
you--n
''What, love?" for Sophy hardl
knew what she was saying.
"That am-Oh! do you love me S
very mucha'
He set her down out of his arms an