The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-03-16
SOPHY WAS TRUE.
Mr.. Mortimore win Now Attend
to His Own Business.

TO His Own business
Let me see-- where was Il that first
met her? Oh, yes; II was under the
ancient arches OF the old bridge. boat.
ing BY moonlight, the sound 81 flute
played softly afar off. and all Of q
sudden the keel Of my boat coming
sharply in contact with somebody's
oars,
Hello, your cried out clear, In
cisive young voice. where nre you
going? Why don't yon look which way
you are steering?"
Charley Drcsden!r cried out /, little
needing the torrents Of obloquy he was
beginning to heap upon me.
'sOld MortimoreF' he responded joy
ously. why, who on earth would
have thought OF finding you dreaming
on the Thanes2 Herei Come into my
boat Hitch on your old craft behind;
and let me introduce you TO Miss Sophy
Adriance."
looked as sharply at Miss Sophy rs
the moonlight and my own modcsty
would let me, for knew that she was
the especial admiration Of my friend,
Charley Dresden. ! had heard her blue
eyes and peach blossom cheeks raved
about until even my much-enduring
patience had failed.
She was pretty, slight, round and
rosy, with china-blue eyes, dimple In
either check and golden brown hair
worn in long, loose curls, with none of
the fashionable denominations Of
crimps, frizzes and artificial braids
about her.
Hardened old bachelor though was,
felt ais If could have fallen in love
with her on the spot If hadn't known
50 well that Charley had the first inn
ing.
We rowed home together, or at least
as far on our way home as the Thames
ballads Charley roared out tenor
barcarolles. even essayed German
student song, which learned at
Heidelburg nobody knows how long
ago, and we parted the best Of friends.
A week afterward Dresden and /
met face to face in st. James street
Halo, Mortimorel'' said. Charley,
his honest visage lighting up What
do you think OF her2''
II think she Is peari-a jewela
princess among women ] answered
with perfect sincerity.
Congratulate me, them cried Char
ley, beaming all over. ''for am en-
gagged to her. Only last night Look
herer' opening q mysterious silver
case which he took from his inner vest
pocket. What do you think of that
for an engagement ring2'
"A fine diamond" said !, critically
putting my head to one side, land
fancifully set"
"We're to be married in October, /"
said Charley, lowering his voice to the
most confidential tones. 1T might
have been sooner II hadn't under
taken that business In France for our
firm. But shall be sure to be back BY
October"
So we parted with a reciprocating
squeeze Of the hand, and Charley's
bright face haunted me all day with a
sort Of "reminiscences Of what might
have happeEed TO me If hadn't been
fve-and-forty, with bald spot on the
back Of my head.
/ spent an evening with her after
ward at the West end house, where she
and her mother-a nice, bright-eYed
little woman, the fuli-blown rose to
correspond with Sophy's budding love-
linessd in the cosiest of apart
ments, furnished in dark blue reps,
and with canaries and geraniums in the
| windows
ut Is 30 kind Of Won to come. said
Sophy, with q gentle pressure Of the
hand, when went away. I'm so glad
TO welcome Charley's friends.
And thought that / could sit through
another evening Of commonplace chit
chat and photograph albums for such q
reward as that
Well, Charley Dresden went away,
and, as he didn't particularly leave
Sophy Adriance in my charge. didn't
feel called upon to present myself Of
| the lodging house where the blue reps
figured and the canaries sang in the
4 south windows
/ / supposed, naturally enough, that
ali was going right, until one day re-
ceived a note from my old friend Bull
/ lion, the banker, man OF sixty, who
wears wig and spectacles and counts
his income upon the doutble figures
i Bullion wrote from Brighton, where
4 he had gone because he didn't know
whnt else To do with himself in the
dull season. He asked me To be his
best man Bullion was going to be
married.
.sOf course you'll think It a foolish
thing for me TO dc" wrote Bullion
seven at sixty man has not entirely
outlived the age Of sentiment; and
when once you see Sophy Adriance you
A win forgive any seeming inconsistency
on my part.
.'Sophy Adriancel' Was this the way
poor Charley's fiancee was serving him
q while he was across the. channel, try
4 ing to earn little money for her salkei
Ny heart rebelled against the hckle
ness Of woman
] went straight to the pretty Yves