The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1909-04-23
CHAPTER V.

mensely. l hope you really had a
bad headache mean that it was
bona fide and not ruse. (Mr. Perry's
education had been classical, and did
not include spelling, or the modern
languages.) The truth Is, have had
enough of this sort of thing, and am
getting tired of it. For all that I
see of you, we might as we'll be like
your friend next door and her fas-
cinating young lawyer in town. More
over, something has occurred that
makes it necessary to hurry matters,
and about what I must talk to you
at once. I shall drop in at the usual
time to-day, unless 1 see or hear any
thing to the contrary; but it will be
much better if 1 can have a word
with you elsewhere say, at the old
mill. If I don't see you I shall wait
for line in Green street up to
o'clock. That young dried-herring,
Adair, was at the ball last night, by
the bye, looking, 1 thought, deuced
nasty. That he suspects something,
I'm pretty certain; but he didn't sus-
pect how very nearly 1 was wringing
will say, but still, another reason why
the present state of things must be
put an end to. Au revoir. Yours,
H. P"
1t Is scarcely in nature that a
young lady should regard with dis
pleasure the impatience of her lover,
even though the inconvenience of it's
display should be ever so obvious;
but Sophy's little brow had such a
frown on 1t as suggested paddock
on miniature, or grenadier keep
ing guard over a jewel-boX. Her
blue eyes were wide and fearless; her
delicate features were haggard with
anger and fear. GA selfish, heart
less letter." she said to herself; "a
cruel letter." Then, looking up in
her trouble and perplexity, she
caught sight of her own face in the
glass. "You fool" she exclaimed,
apostrophizing it with sullen bitter
ness. "You mad and wicked fool"
There was knock at the door,
and she trust the letter hastily into
her bosom, as Miss Aldred entered
the room.
"Come, my dear, am glad to see
you have a little color in your
cheeks" said Aunt Maria, kindly.
81 hope that means you feel better"
81 never thought there was much
the matter with me-" said Sophy,
with little hysterical laugh. "But,
of course, the doctor had to find out
something. I suppose he said the
heart; they always say the heart,
because nobody can get at it and
prove them to be in the wrong"
81 hope it's not so bad as that"
returned Aunt Maria, with some sig
nificance. eff you are really better
and can bear it, have a word or two
to say to you, Sophia
Here Sophy hid her face, which
had suddenly grown scarlet.
81 do not wish,' continued Aunt
Maria, looking at her very fxedly, t'to
reproach you for what is past and
gone, Sophy; but your proceedings
during that period were not what
they Should have been, fear. Even
so far as they came under my OBJ
servation, they dissatisfied me, and
felt called upon, as you remember,
to say something concerning them
though 1 did not say ALTO my
brother 1t would have been better
perhaps if 1 had been more frank.
Still it was partly, at all events, to
shield you from what l then thought
to be his uncalled-for displeasure,
and I nave some right perhaps to
look for little gratitude from you
in consequence. l shall find it, you
say?" (Sophys lips had murmured
something to that effect.) VERY
good. All l ask of you, then, is to
pay the debt you owe into your own
account. No return for anything
have done for you can, l assure you,
be more agreeable to me than that
you should act wisely and for your
own good in this matter. 1t is a
more serious affair than you yourself
have any idea Of, and l tremble to
think of the consequences that may
follow a contrary course of conduct.
You have hitherto only seen one side
of your guardians character; it is in
deed good all around, but though so
tender and lenient to the erring, it Is
not SO to-forgive me, but l only use
his own xpression-scamps and
scoundrels. He Is as suspicious of
evil-doers as he is charitable and
trustful to the rest of his fellow-crea-
lures. And 1t is certain that Mr.. Her.
bert Perry has found his way into his
black books. It is not without rea-
son that he has got there, be assured
of that, Sophy, though I do not wish
to distress you with the disgraceful
details; but the point is that there he
is. Your guardians prejudices, espe-
cially when they are well founded;
are as fixed as his attachments; and
in this case am very certain nothing
will move him. l am to say from
him that Mr.. Herbert Perry is never
to cross the threshold of this house
again. If you meet him elsewhere,
or hold any communication with him,
it will be in direct disobedience to
your guardians wishes-are you lis
tening to what I say. Sophy?"
II have heard every word" an
swered the girl, in half-choked
whisper, though, as her companion
noticed, with some surprise, she. was
not in tears. 81 will do my best, my
very best, promise you -
My darling, there is only .pne way
of. doing your best retugaed Aunt
Maria. 81 beg, 1 entreasisE you, not
to attempt to play faa6tsnd loose in
the matter Duplici95Qr deception
are things that mXN6ther would
never, never forgEs
sophy shuddgxsHs,.t .the was think
ing of what WassagSe, not8of what
she was aboutiYts.
''sit down ataonee,' saphy, like a
good, dear girl, aRl4.Gr4es to this un-
happy young maTzES5,s5f E,5i s5fiftsHppose you
must write to him-tfe-si1nple truth.
1t is not as if you were giving up of