The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1907-05-01

would certainly look frightened"
There was not a flaw in this logic,
only the logician did not understand
| how very much more frightened
| Sophy had been during the last half
| hour than she was now When n
has had a loaded pistol close to ones
| ear for a little, the production of n
| that is not loaded can be borne with
| comparative eQuanimity.
What has happened tonight,
Sophy, has distressed ne, and l am
| sure my dear brother also, exceeding
ly."
Sophys beautiful eyes expressed a
mild surprise.
rs it possible that you a be IN
aware Of what happened on the river?
that that very forward young man,
Mr.. Perry, had the bad taste to drink
your health in public under our very
w~indows?"
And was that such very bad taste,
| Aunt Maria?" inquired the young
girl, demurely.
pray, pray, Sophy, do not treat
this matter with lightness. 1t was
| most Infamous taste. 1t would have
| been bad taste even If he had been
engaged to you, which, as you well
know, can never, never happen"
Sophy smiled; it was a very differ
| ent smile from her former one; it
| had confidence in it, but also adj
ness.
well, at all events, for a very long
time to come," continued Aunt Maria,
there is no possibility of your mar
rying him; should you ever do so it
will be in direct antagonism both to
myself and your guardian, and l don't
think we have deserved Of you to
have, I do not say our wishes only,
but our most serious convictions set
at naught."
you have deserved nothing of me
but love. and gratitude" said Sophy,
with the tears in her eyes. What
ever happens, I shall never forget
how much I owe you"
'.And yet you propose to repay
US with disobedience?" observed
Aunt Maria dryly. Then, as if un-
able to maintain so stern a tone,
even for a moment, she added gently:
1T is not for our sakes, Sophy, as
you we'll know, but for your own,
that we are so strenuous upon this
point. When you come of age you
will be Independent of US, and can
do. as you like. There are many per-
sons who under the same circum-
stances would be glad enough to get
rid of such a responsibility as you
must needs be to US. But when you
leave US you will still be In our
hearts; your future will affect us as
much as your present does at this
hour, only we shall no longer have
the power to shape it. Even now.
if your guardian knew as much as l
do-how often Mr.. Perry comes here,
how often you make xcuse for
meeting him elseWhere-it would
make him miserable. And yet it is
not for his sake, but for your own,
that l ,entreat you to give up this
man"
Sophy, huddled upon the sofa, with
her little hands hiding her pretty
face, answered only by her sobs.
''tIt is better for you to cry now,
my dear" continued Aunt Maria,
with a tender tremor nevertheless in
her own voice, than when things are
past crying for. 1 heard tonight
some talk of Mr.. Perry, which those
who uttered it little thought had any
personal interest for me. He is a
man of bad temper, as well as Of
bad habits; not a ~favorite even with
those who know him best, and among
whom he has gained some pre-emi-
hence: he is a good oar, it seems,
and that is ala poor recommended
ton for a partner in life / own he
is very handsome, but you will not
think SO when he frowns at you.
Such men 500 get tired of their
pretty playthings. Indeed, I have no.
ticed that Of late weeks his manner
to yourself is not what it used to be;
he takes less trouble to please you,
perhaps because he feels sure of you.
I earnestly trust that he has as yet no
ground for such a confidence"
Sophy moaned.
You are not engaged to him."
put in the other, quickly.
NO, Aunt Maria, no." murnured
the girl.
Then part from him, l beseech
you, while there is yet time. People
have already begun to talk of you.
If you don't believe me, ask Henry
Helford, she will tell you the truth,
and give you good advice besides.
1t is most painful to me to speak like
this; but, Sophy, it is better SO than
that my brother should speak to you.
I doubt whether l am right in con-
cealing your conduct from him; but
l know that it would veX him so.
He Is the kindest Of men, but his
noble heart revolts at anything like
duplicity or underhand doings."
Don't tell him-oh! don't tell
HIM" pleaded Sophy, earnestly.
"Well, then, for this once, and
trusting to see signs of amendment
in your behavior, 1 won't" replied
Aunt Maria.
She said this with quite a magnan-
imous air; but the fact was, she
had nothing very deininte to tell,
only certain small misdoings on So
phys part, which feeling herself to
blame for having permitted, she was
not very anxious to reveal.
CT don't u,icb n cnoak of nv own