The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-10-17

|
every word into new and higher language
than the original-gave that bent to her dis
position which made her what she was The
little morning room dispositions, with ball
ICONS and lawns and dinner tables for texts,
concerning dresses and marriages and car
riapes and fortunes and smiles and pastures
and witty answers and complaisancy-these
all Sophia carried up to higher level Of idea
and aspiration. She resolved to charm others
with happiness and goodness in view, not
mere society conquests. Mrs Barbara Tenn
ple's projections were delivered in the spirit
| of Lord Chesterfield, low and selfish,
under a thin disguise of good humor.
Sophia, by the instinct of lofty
nature, resolved to use the means her
mother recommended, but with diff
ferent end in view And here was the pleas
ing orr yinality of her life; she used worldly
methods for most unworldly ends. The
polish, the graces, the social attractions, the
accomplishments, literature and wit, which
saints either despise or at best only tolerate,
she used as the very material out of which
her noble purpose must be woven. And so
sh, remained rather worldly than otherwise
Oh Ii q face of her life, and serious people
cleared she needed conversion But in the
> cret interior of her intentions she was truly
voted, rying, by the spell of a beautiful
womanhood, to make those with whom she
lived better and happier. Certain wise men
explain the miracle of Pentecost as having
lain in the ear; that heard, not in the tongues
lat 81 oke, the listeners clothing the speech
with a sense of their own. So worldly, good
| numored Mr.. Barbara Temple said her
shrewd say; but the words, as they battered
rom her lips caught from the daughters
liner ear a music and a meaning which the
speaker never understood.
With slow delight, with many a blush,
with stolen glances and few shy words, the
courtship Of Percival and Sophia progressed,
and each had commended the other in then
inmost souls long before any love was ex
pressed Brent senior had quite recovered
his spirits in the presence of Mrs. Barbara
Temple, and his easy-moved laughter was
heard in dining room and drawing room as
| of old. Accordingly, to and fro, from house
to house the families went; and the young
people had plenty of occasions of making
love, though it was IS yet love unspoken.
There are, then, two schools of lovers
those who plunge, and those who inch and
| those who plunge are wise. but those who
| mcn are Wiser.
Percival, either by foresight or simply
through circumstance, was an "incher.'
Pleasant work he found it. But is grave
history like mine to detail every nod, glance,
bush, smile, sigh, and so on? or are grave
students like nv readers to be so tri1eG
with? Let me- with wise reserve, be con-
tent, for this chapter at least, with one
closing scene.
End of January. Weather, much rain and
windy; time, 3:15 p. m. scene, dining room
at Mrs. Barbara Temples; persons present,
Percival and Sophia Mark, reader, they
have been here since the rest rose from lunch,
talking about anything or nothing, but grow
ing warmer-at least Percival was growing
warmer-every moment He believes the
hour has come. So stand the two at the win
'ow, watching the drops that course down
the panes, and idly racing drop against drop.
Sophia wins three drops running.
| "Ah," Percival remarks with sigh, Kit is
no use. l can never stand against You"
Sophia thinks she understands this, and
signs, too, family, bushes about the thou
sandth part of tint, droops her head about
the millionth part Of an inch. He sees ALL
"What stormy day." he says next.
Every stormy"
"And yet it does not sem dull, not in
here, does it?" Artful young man! he low
cred his voice toward the end of the sentence
as if the very walls must not hear, but she
only.
ooh, no; it does not seem a bit dull il
here" she responds. There is a regular
overs way of saying the same thing to
and fro; the simpletons mean to intimat
their entire oneness in all things, spoken O
thought.
Sophia looked very lovely just at that m
ment with the fear that is joy lowering owe.
her, casting lights on her eyes, fushes on he,
cheek, and making her every slightest mo
lion tender and gentle. He feels that now
he is full in the sway of the whirlpool;
and on he will be borne until Le has tolt
her ALL
Something very singular happened to m
in Australia" Percival SAYS, bending neare
to her; something 1 am half afraid tt
speak Of"
Here he stops.
"Tell me about it" she whispers, oh, so low
so deliciouslyl She meant: Anything 20;
say will be sweet to hear-especially wha
you are going to say
ut was something SO strange, so unforeseen
One OF those things which happen we canno.
tell how, leading to we cannot tell what"
he stopped again. Again she murmured
OnC VI tAOoc SSutcuCoS WHICH women never
speak but to one ear only, unbaring theil
hearts,
"Tell me about it."
"While I was in Australia 1 fell in love
with girl, who is the queen of my heart.
and shall be till die"
Her posture never changed, not by the
movement of a finger; and do not think the
sharpest watcher would have seen culver
A Of her oVQli6 or q IF ho,. Cx> Dot ~
life went from her face and eyes, and the
fear that is joy vanished, leaving behind the
fear that is fear indeed
Are the girls-the girls-in Australia
very prettys" she inquired, in death-lke
voice.
The next moment size would be in his
arms; the next moment his kiss would have
dropped in burning seal on her lips; the
next moment she would have been his, de-
clared so by signs which even her modestv
could not have hidden. Alas, how short is
the space allotted to whispering, blushing
love in this rough world! Just then the
dining room door opened, and in rushed little
Mr.. Brent, roaring with laughter, stamping
on the floor, choking, rubbing his hands.
And Mrs. Barbara Temple followed laugh
ing, but not in his fashion
"And them" cried the parson between his
rapturouS bursts, "then, without another
word, down sat the dean, looking so import
ant, SO dignified, so reproving-just like an
angry turkey cock, l assure you, Mrs Tenn
pie. Down he sat on his rev hat-crashl it
was stove in-hiS new haiti And I'D he
jumps again, and exclaims: Bless me- nv
hatr"
Rosy with his boisterous mirth, he went I'M
and down, not knowing what he had done