The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-10-31

Brent that IN I'll ahAman probability Sophia
would marry some one else in twelve months
Thus she put herself in the position Of being
able, with perfect honesty, to assure Sophia
at any future day that Percival Brent neither
did nor could expect her to wait for him
And having thus made her position good,
with rare moderation, or rather far-sighted-
ness, she did not prevent the young couple
meeting occasionally during the few weeks
that interviewed between the breaking of the
engagement and Brent's departure for Aus
tralia.
Mrs. Barbarba Temple went yet further in
the way of good-natured concession. On the
day when Brent came to take his final leave
she continued to be out of the way, sending
an apology by Sophia for her absence. 1t
was courageous act, but worldly wise,
presume, like all she did. / believe to the
.dav of her mothers death Sophia never for
got this particular concession 1t showed
such trust in her daughter, such kind desire
not to deprive her of any secret comfort
which the parting might give. In fact, i
was an act of womanly generosity and cour
age of which few mothers would have beer
capable But have not said already that
women as Agamemnon was king OF menf
Sophia tried to be cheerful that dull May
afternoon; for she saw that her poor fellows
heart was breaking. Indeed, he could hardly
speak one word She had to tell him OF
magnificent present which she had made to
him in secret, and which was now waiting for
him in London. This was set Of foreign
travelling boxes, furnished with everything
the good little creature could think OF as be-
ing possibly of use to her dear when he was
far away. wish I could give catalogue
of the articles in leather, glass, steel, silver;
how she had slipped into one part Bible and
prayer book; the little medicine chest, with
book. under the guidance Of which you could
heal yourself of any disease; down to needles
and thread-"stout thread for buttons"
her account of it read like shopman's cata-
logue She grew so interested in her clever
ness and forethought that she half forgot the
impending parting. Bless the heart OF
woman. how it lives in the present, and will
not realize the future, be it ever SO near!
Then, blushing, she told him of one particu-
lar little pocket in one particular little leather
case, which he was never to open unless he
happened to want money very badly. He
might have lost everything, and not be able
to get back to England. In that case let him
open that pocket He might be very i'll, and
have nothing to pay the doctor. In that case
let him open the pocket. In any capital and
inextricable difficulty let him open that
pocket. Poor Sophial the savings of thrifty
years, and the better part of her allowance
for don't know how many more (mortgaged
to Car and SibyD had gone into those boxes
and that pocket.
All this time while she chatted on, trying
desperately to be cheerful, he had said little
or nothing. At last he took out his watch,
and looked at it, gathering strength.
81 must go now" he said.
Then in an instant, like frail hut swept
away by a sudden hurricane, all her little
cheerfulness was gone. Her steadiness, her
heroism was worth nothing at all. She cast
herself on his breast-he was to sustain her
now-crying, caressing him, clinging to him,
as if she could not let him go.
percy" was all she said-"darling Percyp
And he said nothing. One thing his manli-
ness enabled him to do: he kept silence. But
not word could he utter.
at is the sea between us, " she said, sobbing
"Such distance of sea! such length of
time"
He only clasped her to his breast.
But shall not forget you; you won't for
get me; promise It'll"
she understood by his clasp that, with an I'M
uttered VOW, he was binding himself to her
forever.
Promise me again." she murmured
Still he did not make any audible reply.
promise me once MORE" she whispered;
and still without any speech, she was satisfied
that he replied.
There followed moment of silence, she
offering up prayer for his safety; and in
what shrine so fit could she offer it as there
on his manly breasts Then she felt his arms
gathering round her in an embrace stronger,
it seemed, than death. 1t was as if giant
clasped her; she was like willow wand, and
his were arms of steel Could such an en-
brace ever be unloosed? Yes; in a moment
she was standing alone on the foo:, he was
passing out of the room, she cast herself help
lessly on the sofa-and they were parted now.
All the time he had never spoken. But the
silence of his farewell was more to her than
any language could have been. He could not
speak for grief. The intensity of his VOW
was beyond all language. Sophia often looked
back with a sort of sorrowful pride to that
silent farewell