Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1886-06-04
CHAPTER VI.

A SLEEPING KISSING A PICTURE.
And now, the field being clear for her
operations, our little Agamemnon in petit
coats prepared for her part of the affair. She
wa fully determined to root out Of her
daughters mind the memory Of Percival
Brent, and to marry Sophia brilliantly be-
fore many months were out. No sooner had
the young lover departed han she perceived
how much she had furthered her own ends
by her indulgence to her daughter these last
few days, especially at the parting hour
Sophia was quite tender with her when they
met, kissed her, fondled her, and was all the
evening 50 affectionate amid her hardly-re-
pressed grief, that the little plotting woman
began to discover a soft place in her own
stony heart. She was gentle with Sophia,
and took no direct notice Of the poor girls
tears, which would come once or twice
during the evening, only, as she passed,
stroked her head softly, intending to signify
that she ~sympathized with her, which she
really did. Tomorrow she would turn over
her new leaf.
"Sophy, she said at breakfast, lit is ten
years this month since we were i'll Paris. l
have a fancy to go over there before the
weather gets too hot. Would you like til"
Anywhere with you, dear" Sophy replied,
eheerfully. She was determined not to nope,
and to begin early.
@That's pleasant" the mother answered,
with a beaming look. "We shall start this
day week.
Dresses had to be ordered, hotels had to be
chosen, a hundred preparations had to be
made, and Mrs. Temple saw with exultation
that Sophia entered into all the plans with
great spirit The mother read in this a sign
That already Percival was fading out of mind.
II was sure he would, " the little woman said
~ herself. "0f course he must as time goes
ON
They stayed a month in Paris, and the
whole Of the time she managed to keep So
phia entertained in the most diverting a
They had friends there, and the days were
passed in a set Of choice little pleasures; and
whatever that inexhaustible purse of Mrs.
Temples could do to burnish the hours was
lone with her own taste and tact.
Il shall show Sophia what the world isl"
the worlds worshiper said to herself; "and
the Australian boy will soon vanish frcm her
mind, and love in a cottage with him. Cot
tage, indeed not if you can get a house; and
not a house if you can get a mansion! 0,
it is wonderful how slow Sophia is to see the
value Of hfel But she is beginning, and with
her good sense she will soon be able to teach
instead u being taught"
And now, to Mrs. Temples ~unspeakable
qualification, there appeared on the scene a
man who was plainly thinking Of making
Sophia an offer. Had the little woman been
choosing a sutton she could not-so she said
afterward-hav made a more promising selec-
ton must not say much about him. He
was ten years Sophia's senior, sedate but not
gloomy in his manner, his fortune was ample.
his birth high, and his appearance was con-
sidered progressing. He had long been resi-
dent in the neighborhood Of Kettlewell. but
in Paris they were first introduced. He met
the mother and daughter at dinner. Mrs.
Barbara Temple, hearing Of him before, had
already wished inly that he might be struck
with Sophia. She marked him as be walked
into the room, and at sight Of him her wishes
redoubled. During dinner she watched him
narrowly. For a time he did not seem TO
have even noticed Sophia, but at last he
looked at her. The little mother saw his gaze
arrested in pleasurable surprise, and for the
rest Of the evening he managed to look at the
young girl as often as possible.
The next day the stranger, whose name
was Prendergast, made some excuse for call
ing upon them, and you may be sure be
was graciously received. His conversation
pleased Sophia, that was plain; and Mrs
Temple, watching him, saw in his manner
81 which delighted her beyond expression