The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1886-08-05

things over, Sophia, and I feel you ought to
be-prudent."
SPrudentl" "prudent!" 1t was the word
that had been rung in the poor girls ears
until she was ready to scream at the sound of
it,
HAnd besides, Sophia" Goldmore con-
tinued, "your mother wishes it. / am far
from saying that any girl is bound to con-
slider even her parents in matter so nearly
concerning her personal happiness; but,
Sophia, when the man is so very desirable,
and when parents will is so very strongly
expressed, 1 think dutiful character like
yours will-will weigh the matter, Sophial"
Sophia was really broken down now and
sobbing piteously; and Goldmore, who would
not have wounded her without cause on any
consideration, judged that these tears were
shed over the final wrench from Percival
Brent
"You are naturally agitated, dear girl" he
went on, in his three-syllable style of speech.
"You are a sympathetic nature, and you
regret your late engagement You are one
of those women who are always delicate in
your dealings with our sex-more delicate
perhaps than most of us deserve. But, now
that the thing is done, every hour your sor-
row will diminish and your future will grow
brighter Don't cry any more, Sophia; you
are acting prudently, and you have obeyed
your parent"
III. CAROLINE AND soPHIA-LovE vs. LOVE
"Mind Sophy," Car said, 'tif Prendergast
was an elderly man, like Goldmore, l would
not have had you marry him, not if he could
have heeled your boots with diamonds. Don't
you see how dull Sibyl is3 1t is nothing IN
the world but that she is tired Of that old fel-
low. Now YOU may not think Egerton very
clever or witty, but l assure you he is capt
tai husband, and l have grown fonder of him
than l could have believed. would not see
you so mopel as Sibyl, not if mamma were
to go on her knees to us. But really, Sophia,
Prendergast is more than passable; he is very
agreeable"
"Well, but being agreeable does not make
you love a man, Sophia ventured to say.
"No," Car answered readily; "but when
mans character is such as you approve, and
when his position and prospects are good, and
when he is agreeable in addition, you are
safer in marrying him-safer, do you hear,
Sophyl-than you would be in marrying af-
ter the most romantic of court,hps."
Sophia was silent before Cars reasonable
assertion
Besides, Sophy"-now she came to her
special appeal-'mamma is quite in terror
lest you should refuse Prendergast. She has
taken such fancy to him. With his serious
ways one would hardly have expected that;
but so it is Prendergast will be making
mamma a saint one of these days if he enters
the family-he has such an influence over her
1t was not altogether fair to Car to hold
out such a motive to her sister. She well
knew how Sophia bewailed her mothers in |
fatuated worldliness; and how in her gentle, |
daughterlike way, she was always trying to |
mocker This one sentence of Cars told |
more with Sophia than all that had been |
said to her before She was in that melan- |
choly mood when women, and men, too often |
make lifelong sacrifices at the bidding Of |
religion. What if Prendergast did really |
make her mother in her last days a better |
and wiser woman! She sighed, and looked |
up at Car receptively.
"No doubt OF it." Car said, in a kind of re- |
ply to her sisttr's glance. "Mamma will be \
the happiest oman in England if you marry |
him. And she has been a kind mother to us,
and we ought to please her if we can. And, |
besides, as 1 said, he may really be useful to |
mamma, she thinks so much of him"
Divided was Sophias heart, and her loyal |
will was shaken when she left her sister, Who
could stand such succession Of argument |
and appeal9 or, if we choose to bring in a new
what citadel could resist such a
number Of battering rams managed by that |
eminent pagan military engineer, Mrs. Bar
bara Templel Yes; Sophia was feeling the
of her sex: "ffaint," u yield,"
W. EGERToN AND soPhIA-IDIoCY VS.. LOVE-
As with sad steps she was walking down
the avenue, she was startled by the appari-
tion of Egerton, who suddenly appeared,
peeping over the top of a holly bush. He
glance hensively round, like paid
lssas,H ragedy, and then, coming round
the hui -uah with long secret Tarquin
strides, he advanced to Sophias side.
"Come here" he said, in an awful whisper.
And he returned behind the holly bush as
le came forth Sophia did not know what to
hink; but, waving his manner in her esti-
nate of the position, she came to the conclu-
ion that he had got hedgehog, or some
,ther natural curiosity which he wished her
o inspect; so she followed him. No sooner
vas she at his side than. with three or four
more furtive glances, he stopped to her ear,
md, in whisper Of the profoundest caution
aidt
"SophiaP take my advice, and go and get
married. It's an awfully nice thing You
nay take it from me that it is not so much
natter whom you marry as the thing it.
elf. Do that, and all the rest will follow.
Don't let out to any one that told you"
And then, with an air of secrecy which
vas frightfuly suggestive, and the same
ong and ghostly strides, he made for the
louse leaving her to resume her path as best
he might.
(To be COntInued.)