Year: 1860

ry speeches in her chamber? Be that as
it may, half hour had not elapsed before
Harry Ainslee's hand and fortune, (though
the latter, by the way, was nothing wonder
full, were in the same place where Capt.
Morris and DR.. Wilkins had been before
them.


''The first man that ever heard say such
things without making fool of himself, D
muttered Sophie, emphatically, from behind
her fan, as she sat blushing and evidently
gratifed, yet without deigning any reply tc
the gallant, straig ightforward speech in which
her lover had risked his all of hope.


'He ought to do pennance for the pretty
way he manages his tongue. He's altogeth-
er too calm to suit me-" And Sophie shook
her curly head rheaningly. holding her fan
before her for a screen. Did she forget
what she had been saying? II wonder il
[ could snore the way old uncle Jones used
to in church ?" she soliloquised. ''Wouldn't
it be fun--and wouldn't it plague Harry il
he thought had been asleep while he was
talking %


Sophie's blue eyes danced with suppressed
merriment as she gave two or three heavy
breathings, and followed them up with a
nasal explosion worthy of an orthodox dca-
con- It was we'll done-and theatrically
done and poor Harry sprang bolt upright,
surprised, mortified, chagrined. Human
nature could stand it no longer, and Sophie
gave vent to her mirth in burst Of trium-
plant laughter.


"Y-o-u little witch-you mischief-you
spirit of evil y exclaimed the reviled Harry
as he sprang to her side and caught her by
the arm with grip that made her scream,
'.you deserve shaking for your behavior p
Then lowering his voice, he added gravely


"Will you never have done tormenting
me r? If you love me can you not be gene
rous enough to tell me so and if you do
not, am not at least worthy of a candid
refusal p


Words sprang to Sophie's lips that would
have done credit to her womanly nature, for
the whole depths of her being were stirred
and drawn towards him as they never before
had been towards any man.


But she could not quite give up her raile-
ry then. She would 60 one step further
from him ere she laid her hand in his and
told him he was dearer than all the world
beside. So she checked the tender response
that trembled on her tongue, and finging
off his grasp, with a mockiig gesture and a
ringing laugh, danced across the room to
the piano.


She seated herself, she ran her fingers
gracefully over the keys, and broke out in
a wild, brilliant, defiant song that made her
! listeners ears tingle as he stood watching
her, and choking back the indignant words
that came crowding to hislifs for utterance.


"Sophie, listen to me p' he said at length
as he paused from sheer exhaustion. ''Is
it generous-isit just, to trife with me so
to turn into ridicule the emotion Of heart
that offers to you the most reyerent affec-
tons? i have loved you because beneath
this volatile surface character of yours, I
thought saw truthfulness and simplicity,
purity of soul, and warm current of ten
der, womanly feelings, that would battle
with blessings the whole life of him whose
hand was so fortunate as to touch it's secret
springs. You are an heiress, and I only a
poor student; but if that is the reason why
you treat me SO scornfully. you are less the
noble woman than I thought you''


Sophie's head was averted, and suspi-
cieus moisture glistened in her eyes as Har-
ry ceased speaking. All why is it that we
sometimes hold our highest happiness SC
lightly-carrying it carelcssly in our hands,
as though it were but dross, stalking it all
upon an idle caprice? When she turned
her countenance towards him again, the
same mocking light was in her eyes, the
same coquettish smile breathed from hcr
red lips.


Speaking of heiresses," said Sophie
''there is Helen Myrtle, whose father is
worth twice as much as mine. Perhaps
you had better transfer your attention to her,
Mr.. Ainslee. The difference in our dowa-
ries would no doubt be quite an inducement,
and possibly she might consider your case
more seriously than | have done.'


Like an insulted prince. Harry Anslee
stood up before her-the hot, fiery, indig-
nant blood dashed in fierce current over
his face-his arms crossed tightly upon his
breast as if to keep is heart from bursting
with uprising Indignation, his lips compress
ed and bis dark eyes flashing Sophie,
cruel Sophie You trespassed upon his
forbearance one little step further than you
would have dared, had you known his proud
and sensitive nature


Not till he had gone--gone without a
single word of expostulation, leaving only
a grave "good bye" and the memory Of his
pale face to plead for him--did the thought
less girl wake to realization of what she
had done: Then quick, terrible fear shot
through her heart, and she would have
given every curl on her brown head to have
had him beside her one short moment longer


ssPshaw what am / afraid of? He will
be back again in twenty-four hours, and as
importunate as ever" she muttered to her
self, as the street door closed after him ; yet
sigh that was half sob, followed the
words, and could Harry have seen the beau
tiful pair of eyes that watched him SO eager
ly as he went down the long street, or the
bright face that leaned way out through the
parted blinds with such wistful look as he
disappeared, it might have been his turn to
! frirmph