Year: 1878

IL suppose you expect perfect happi
ness r said Mrs Merriam


81 am not quite so irrational. " returned
Sophy "lIow could you imagine sch a
thingY Have | not always been told that
perfect happiness is not to be expected on
earthY And then, you know, Mrs Mer-
RAM mIsuch matter OF. fact parsonage "
This with smile of which the sunshine
contradiCted her words


Are you :" said Mrs Merriam. survey
ing her with gaze Of mingled weariness
and compassion Poor woman She ALWAYS
looked weary and worn out 1T will be
all the better for you. | was so different
myself the future looked So golden to me
| found the disenchantment 50 much the
more bitter,


1T is of no use for us old people to mora
lie TO her, said Mrs Brent Sophy's
mother Youth viii not moderate its
expectations, talk wisely as we may.
1t must learn by experience, just as we
did "


Mrs Merriam felt that the experience
thus included with her own had differed
widely from it, but she said no more
Conversation turned on after topics and
when she went away, She wished Sophy
Joy in a manner more betttng the occa-
sion than her previous remarks had been.
Sophy watched her down the garden
walk Her feelings were too warm, her
hopes to bright, to be chilled by dolOrous
suggestions yet these cast Tia or shadow.
Secure in her own atiiuence, she felt
gentle pity for this woman, so poor in love
and happiness. 1t was impossible that
Charles or she should ever change Time,
trial suffering, would but knit their hearts
more closely together She shuddered a
moment at the thought of what existence
must he to those who had trusted every
thing to one, and found that one fail them
Then a familiar form was seen coming
towards the house and fancies and sym
pathies were alike forgotten in the glow of
present joy.


The wedding was to take place in few
DAYS Sophy's parents did not regard it
with quite unmixed delight, though they
welcomed Charles kindly for their daugh-
ter's sake But the case was this A year
or eighteen months before there had been
another sutor and no one who knew
her could ever guess why Sophy Brent
should not have fancied him. Henry
Harvey was good hooking he was intelh-
gent, he was agreeable, he was rich Mr
and Mrs. Brent were greatly pleased but
SophY would none of him. She used
every means to ward off proposal and
when, in spite of her, it came, declined il
with positiveness that forbade all hope
of reconsideration. And then. as Mrs
Brent said to her husband, il seemed as i
the very spirit of perverseness did possess
the child for no sooner did Charles Elliot
begin to manifest an interest in her society
than her whole demeanour underwent
change No longer proud, and distant
and self f.pOssessed, but shy, gentle, blush
ing as any other girl in love, And Charlie
Elliott had just nothing at all, unless on
reckoned his profession AS a barrister t.
which he had never chosen to pay yer.
strict attention. lie was little unsteady
too Altogether, it was a match to max
prudent parents very grave Mr.. an
Mrs Brent yielded, however. seeing hoy
fully Sophy's heart was enlisted in til
matter. There had been nothing to CON
plain of since in the young man. ii
applied himself eagerly to his business
was devoted to his betrothed, and wa
considered by everybody to be doing wei


Henry Harvey, the rejected suitol
meanwhile, did not think himself calle
upon to break his heart. On the contrary
he had been very soon consOled, and th1
bv Sophy's own cousin, Anastasa. Tn
weddings were to take place in the sam
week, tn0ugn on Qulte different sCdIt
Anastasia $ father was much the NOR
wealthy of the Brents and the bride
grooln's circumstances being easy. theT
was nothing TO forbid IA good deal of parad
and style. Sophy's wedding, on the cor
trary, was quiet in every way, as WI
most prudent Mrs. Brent groaned
litle-in spirit, merely, not so loud as
be audible-at sight of Anastasia' tineri
of every sort, and particularly as the el
giant pdrure, Mr.. Harvey's own gift, w
exhibited Sophy might have had /
these things just as well as not But
for the girl herself, she would not ha
given one fond glance of her lover for {
the pearls and diamonds that could


heaped together


When the young couple came hoI
from their wedding tour, they found Au
Margaret at the house.


When do you expect Anastas
auntie3 inquired the bride.


II don't know. indeed there is no II
of their coming back yet. They mean


make very long pleasure tour.