The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-10-24
CHAPTER ".
STILL ABOUT MISFORTUNE.

STILL ABOUT MISFORTUNE.
Percival callel upon Sophia that afternoon
and, for some wise reason, Mrs. Barbara Tenn
pie allowed him to see her alone Indeed, the
little woman was never other than kind tC
her dau& hters, and being sure that Sophias
madness could not last, she resolved not tc
seem tyrannical. So she let the boy and CIR
have it all to themselves.
Percival, impulsive in his wretchedness
told Sophia everything in breath. He wa.
stout-hearted enough to hide his grief pretty
well, and he hastily assumed, as kind of pos
tulate of the whole conversation, that Sophia
would think of nothing but of giving him up
Thus he raised in her light sweet petulance
which caused her to leave his dark illusion
unscattered for while.
81 shall go out to Australia again, and be
gin life, he said with a manful air.
She could not look at him, or she would
have been in his arms, so she stood hall
turned from him with downcast eyes, and he
watching her, felt his heart sink He haG
family hoped for other things.
"Yes, shall go out to Australia again." he
repeated, SO sadly that Sophia could hardly
even for an instant bold herself bak at i.
fine climate" he added, trying to seem un
concerned again.
"You will meet some girl out there" shf
answered in the very exuitation Of her nv.
pOcrlsy, land you will like her very we'll"
u shall never love any one again." he said
gravely; and his voice grew unsteady at the
last word. "Only you" he added, in a yet
more shaking voice. That bit of unsteadi
ness finished Sophia off,
Never do" she cried-"never do. I ask
nothing more of you; and then go round and
round the world, and I shall wait here faith
fully till you come back"
So her little bit of deceit was over. and she
was sobbing in his arms, telling him that he
was ten thousand times dearer to her now.
because she could show her love to him: ard
that no other man should ever call her
his own, with twenty other of those silly
speeches made on such occasions: some of
which, as declaring the nob,er impulses of
the heart that Gcd has made, will be remem-
bered, doubt not, when ten thousand human
frailties are blotted out of the book of his
remembrance. And Percival, holding the
lovely girl in his arms, felt how little he had
lost, and how much he had gained in that
very loss; and he realized something of the
truth of Him who knew the human heart. and
said that there are times when, in the very
loss of life, we find life anew-life which can
not perish and which cannot be defiled.
There They spoke no more. not another
sentence for many minutes, but stood folded
in each others arms, mingling tears, enrap-
tured, exchanging by thousand fond pres
sures, heart against heart, emotions vows.
plotestations, which the narrow Channels of
speech can never convex
You are all the world to me-" he said at
last 81
"All the world, am I?n she answered softly
20 Percy, Percy!"
An" AN you will go on loving me, Sophia
"For ever and ever
Better or worse-richer or poorerg"
Yes, till death us do part nothing else
shall-never, Percyr
80 1t went on, silence and speech alternating
for full an hour Mrs. Barbara Temnle wa
wise woman, but 1 somewhat doubt the
astuteness OF her policy ON that particular