The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-06-05

said triumphantly
And when Prendergast took his leave, Mrs
| Temple resolved fairly to open her mind &c
Sophia.
| Il have never Sophy,n she began, ''neveI
in my life seen man who more takes my
fancy The door was hardly shut upon him
AT first | thought him rather duh and
well-sanctifed Here our little vivaciou.
| sinner made the smallest and genteelest face
of scorn. But that soon wears off; and
declare that, in spite of my first impression
| l find him the most truly lively, entertaining
accomplished man have ever met What
| do you think, Sophy"
He is very agreeable Sophia said Sc
Iiously
| polite without affectation, witty without
coarseness, serious without can't" Mrs Tenn
pie went on, in true Eighteenth century high
| style. "He is a specimen of moderation in
all things; and moderation, Sophia, next tc
repose of manner, is the great mark of a gen
| tleman A gentleman should he a little Of
everything, and not too much of anything
Have you ever met so accomplished manF
| YES Sophia replied, dexterously affecting
not to hear the last part of her mothers
speech, The is all you say l like him greatly
| Il am going to ask him to dinner" Mrs
Temple said
| what, mammal" exclaimed Sophia Com
pany so sooni Wait little"
| Not company, child, the mother answered
"All alone, He will like it better than q
party"
| And spoil one of our little snug evenings,
Sophia muTmured. Don't, mamma"
"Now what is there in our evenings YOU SC
enjoy, Sophia?'
| oh" that dear hypocrite answered, Il en-
| joy the quiet-and-and our music-and-
and your talk, mamma, and all your funny
lively stories. You are the hest company il
| the world"
| She put her hands caressingly round her
mothers neck. and the mother, who Away,
| showed herself pleased with every mark Of
affection from her daughters, drew one round
white arm along her lips, giving it a success
sion of tiny kisses.
Poor Prendergast viii find it terribly dui
at the hotel, Sophy. Really, it would be quite
barbarous to leave him there alone"
| Well if you must have him, mamma
have some people to meet him"
Il don't think he would care for that"
III he wants society, it is Just what ht
would care for mamma"
But he does not want society," the mother
replied; only a little friendly chat ana
music Yes" she added, resolved to carry
her point at once, Il shall sit down AM
write a note to him this moment
The note was sent that evening, but no an
swer came. Mrs. Temple began to think sht
must be altogether out in her surmiseS. But
at twelve O'Clock next morning, when Sophia
was walking in the town, the name of Mr.
| Prendergast was announced, and he stepped
into the room with an apology for the early
call on his lips, and yet with an air which
| plainly said; My business is my excuse.
Mrs. Barbara Temple assured her visitor thai
his call was not inopportunc,
''ln fact, she said with one of her engag
ing laughs, u am famished for a little scan
dial Scandal, ii you pieaser
My cal, Prendergast remarked quietly
lis not of that character The fact is h,
continued, opening his business at once, q
have been greatly struck by your daughter
| wish to use no flattering language, but
assure You that never, never have / seen an,
young lady who seemed to possess half hel
attractions. She is lovely girl"
He stopped, and a slight moisture in hi,
eyes signitied that he was speaking from hi,
heart. Mrs Temple made graceful inclina
| ton of her head.
at is always agreeable to mother to heal
not overrated Sophia, as |, who have watched
her from her cradle can tell YOU
a came to see you this morning partly OF
your account Prendergast continued q
know the responsibilities and anxieties of 8
mother, left in sole charge of attractive 8
girl do not wish to add to them, and the
least intimation of disapproval of my suit OF
your part will be sufficient to make me
abandon it at once, and finally"
Possibly this grave gentleman, having eve:
III his head, may have known that the littls
mother was dying to call him son-in-law
ana this noble speech may have had a trace
of iunbt@ in 1t. But Mrs Barbara rever-
enced tins sort OF hunbug. Ii was more
spicy than reality. She would not have
liked Prondergas; for really meaning all this
riV1 consideration, hut for pretending to
ueaa It, and Tor uttering the rIotuse with
all at so u ,iectly pharisa'e, size could have
kissed han There and tn IL SO, Pharlsee
feminine against ihdIis,'a MASCULINE, she
looked at INN with a small and pensiye sigh.
| How few men show such consideration, Z;
Il came also" said he, ION my own ac-
rount if Mi Temple is engaged, or if she
is not likely to look with favor W IA NE.
had rather know it At least yon might per
uaps give me your youf-ddutee F."
Mrs Temple liked him better than ever
"Sy fellow" she said 10 herself. Iii b,
dances as neatly as lie pla,s demure he mus
make good figure at a bal"
Aloud she remarked:
''In these matters ] always like to speai
with the greatest possible franlsness. We ar
not driving bargain across counter
Your offer is to me- SO far as | know You a
present, the defens less woman inserted thi
attorney clause with the sweetest smile
''most gratifying. believe You would tn
to make Sophia happy, and would succeed.
1t was Frendergasts turn to incline hi
head now, and he did it
''As to Sophia" continued the mother
joining the tips of her fingers in ponderin:
sort of way, that is much more intricat
NATTER
''s;he is net engaged, is sheT the suite
cried hastily
''she is not She is perfectly unfettered
But there has been sort of attachment, he
affections have been---n
81 understand Prendergast said with
grave face. "You wish to break it gently T.
me. can assure you / should never try il
the remotest way to take from another maj
affections | should SO treasure if they wer
my own"
He was speaking his real mind now, an,
Mrs Temple looked at him, lowering betweel
admiration and amusement She had hve'
J in a world Of honor, but not quite honor 0
this sort; however, she always made her boy
, to virtue when it was well dressed and ex
pressed itself genteelly.
"A most high-minded feeling she said
J @Just as / should feel myself But in tn
} present case such scruples would be out 0
place. This is only a boy and girl affair
there is no money, no prospect, no hope.