The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1906-03-09
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BY ARNOLD GoLsWoRTHY

e c OPHlE MEADOWS sat H. tIe litil'
.IO parlor at the bac. OF her m-thef
shop and gaztd CismaLy cut ilto tA'
garden where the las; b.ov .ta.,s acre
falling from the lines 10 the sobe!
fOOtpath below. The scene mas iot al
together an unsy mpatnetIc one iol
Sophie. since she was sad at heart ina
dull, misty afternoon. Indeed. there
were signs that she had been cry ing.
and when Sophie cried. her nose ereN
very red indeed. and a woman will moi
incur a risk Of that sort without The
most acute prOyOcation. In the spring
1t had all been so different. David Irot-
ter. who managed the village flour mil
for his father. and who was besides q
most eligible young man In every way
had asked Sophie to be his wife, ano
the earth seemed so fair 10 her then.
The song Of the skylark had a new
meaning for her at that time. and the
swallows nest that was building In the
caves over her window developed. from
great nuisance. into a pleasing and
blessed allegory Summer had beer
spring intensified: and the brightness
Of life had seemed quite dazzling. Anc
now everything was cherries and damp
the sun was cold. and the fire OF true anc
only love had spluttered out and leii
Sophie with a bruised heart and a rec
nose.
Everybody knew 1t was Da'id's-that
IS, Mr.. TrOtter's-fault. or, at least
every body TO whom Sophie had mel
toned the matter Sophie's mCtLer hac
perhaps not quite grasped the iull mean
ing of the awful crisis in her daughter
bright young life, The good soul ha'
even spoken lightly Of it, affecting C
treat IL as a mere lovers quarrel. ant
that at a time when Sophie had been
seriously considering whether she ought
| to 20 into a nunnery or just pine Az az
and die IN the back parlOr at home
Sophie knew for a fact that Da1id-or
rather. Mr.. Trotter-had been seen firt-
Ing with Faith Duker. the creature who
set her cap at everybody. The thing
had been seen in the village, and after
likely bit Of scandal had gone the
round Of a village like Dunstead. It's
own mother would not have recognized
II at the finish. David had gone so far
as to meet the creature a second time
by appointment. and that. Of course
capped his iniquity Every body knows
that no self-respecting girl can put Up
with goings-on Ike that 1t would not
have matteTed so much II he had ad-
mitted his error, and had endeavOreo
to earn forgiveness by a fitting display
OF contrition. But David had had the
effrontery TO deny the charge, and hac
actually punched young Harper about
dreadfully for Just casually mentioning
the matter 10 a circle Of friends at the
Blue Anchor Which just show you the
true character Of people like David
should say, Mr. Trotter And yesterday
Sophie had taken her pen In hand. anC
after labOriOusly studying the diction-
airy so as 10 be sure that she had got
the long words right. had intimated to
Mr.. Trotter in cold and dignifed terms
that all was now over between them.
and he would receive per bearer the
presents he had made her. and hence
forth they we're strangers for eyermore
Amen
On other days Sophie would have
been helping her mother in the shop.
but to-day she could do nothing but SIT
and watch the leaves fall. AS 1t grew
dusk she got up and III the lamp. There
was her knitting on the table The !
woOlly squares hanging from the |
needles were the foundations Of pair |
Of socks that had been intended for
him. Now. Of course they would 60 to |
the heaven via the parish church and |
the missionary society. No doubt the |
heather would be more appreciative, |
though perhaps woollen socks in the |
tropics might be a little trying to the |
untutored savage mind And then
"Sophie!"
1t was the voice Of Mrs Meadows.
calling from the shop. And a moment
later the good soul put her head into the
parlor and added:
Sophie! It's David. He's come to
see you"
Sophie started to her feet This was
the last straw. David-that Is to say.
Mr.. Trotter-had been given 20 under
stand that his presence was no longer
agreeable TO her and in spite Of that he
had had the effrontery to call upon her
once more.
Tell him | don't want to see him.
mother" she said After what's 'ap-
pened don't want to speak to him
again"
Mrs. Meadows turned back 10 her
shop: but before she could repeat the
portentous message. David was already
at the parlor door Mrs. Meadows smiled
and preceded him into the
room. She was about to retire again,
when Sophie stopped her i'm
patiently.
Don't go. mother" she said. with the
lmperiousness Of the spoilt child that
she was.
David was big. rosy-cheeked fellow
With plenty Of confidence The last
was made evident by the deliberate way
n which he put his hat on a chair. and
hen lifted a couple Of brown paper par
,els on the table. With a quiet Good
evening" addressed to Sophie, he pro-
,eeded to deliberately unite the string
If one Of the parcels The knot was a ]
title hard. and as no one spoke. the
silence was becoming in
olerable. Finally. David looked up.
you sent back the few little presents
'ad gave YOU" he said, gazing directly I
q front Of him and addressing the op- d
'osite wall straight in the eye. "an so, q
course. I'm bringin back those what {
on gave me-" y
you could ha sent 'em back" e
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