The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-06-26
CHAPTER III.


During the weeks that Immediately fol-
lowed Sophia observed that her mother was
very often thoughtful. and would talk to her
self, rod her head, shake it, irown and make
number Of those signs which denote that We
are thinking hard and reasoning with our
selves She never dropped the smallest al
fusion 10 Frendergast, and Sophia, glad of
the opportunity, seized the favorable mo-
ments. and showered caresses and attentions
upon her mother. which the mother for her
part received with every mark of satisfac-
Ton. Thus the time, which, had it fulfilled
Sophia expectations would have been one
long scene of reproaches and regrets, did as
matter of fact glide easily and pleasantly
by giving another illustration of that great
common truth, that il we only wait until our
troubles actually come they will often turn
uut 10 troubles at ell Sophin, however.
wondered what tie moot case could be that
her mother So pondered and argued with her
self
"SOphy, the little woman said one morning
at breakfast this house is too large for US
| shall give it up, and rent small one rather
nearer tile town, Our lease expires in Sep
TENDER, and don't fancy another winter in
this lonely place
SO this had been the matter of internal
debate. Sophia was not at all surprised to
dnd that her mother was giving up the
Beeches. for the burglary was sufficient
reason: but when the old woman began to
talk of reasons Of economy, she concluded
that, ashamed to confess to fear she was ex-
cusing her flight by alleging pecuniary mo
tives. Sophia, however, soon found that
there was more in the matter than she had
Imagined
81 shall keep one carriage in the future, no
more, Mrs Temple said few days after
"One carriage, one horse, and one man ser
want Quite enough for us two
Mamma Sophia cried, "the idea of you
trottlng about in little brougham with one
horse! How funny you will fell"
Not at all. dear, so long as the carriage is
neat and the horse what horse should be.
Cutie enough fer MS. Sophv More seems af-
tectaton; just like those Dones. Horrid
people, with fresh carriage for every day in
the weel.-ani such horses! 1t strikes me that
whenever a vuigarian makes money and re-
tires, being OF no family himself, he resolves
TO have horses with pedigree No, no,
Spplrv, We shall not lose anything by living
quietly. Leave that TO me, dear; you may
safely leave that 80 me"
Great was the astouislr mt of Kettlcwell.
Not that we wondered at Mrs. Temple giving
up the Beccke'; with rs, as with Sophia, the
burglary WIS q sufficient reason for that But
when she chose a small box of a villa near
the entrance of the town. and put down two
oi her carriages, dismissed five Of her ser
wants, and in a general way reduced her ex-
pcnditures by more than one-half, we were
surprised indeed Had Sophia been married
the affair would have been ineligible, but
who, for sry motive except neces-
sitv, ever heard Of a matchmaking mother
lowering her mode of living until all her
daughters we're settled? There was a great
deal of talk in Kettlewel, and great deal of
whispering. Had Mrs. Temple been living
beyond her means} Had she made some bad
speculation! Was this only the prelude TO a
final crashl All these questions were asked
freely, and most Of us had some surlnise to
make; but nobody quite agreed with any
body else except in one roint-Mrs Temple
was not the woman to retrench without ur-
gent reason; and after all, the most likely
reason was that she had not the money to
maintain her original grandeur. One spite
full lady friend congratulated her ironically
behind her back on having married two
daughters well, at all events, and said that
even if the mother died bankrupt, dear
Sophia would always have comfortable
home with her sisters
Car ard Sibyl were as much amazed as the
rest, and, not daring to inquire of their
mother, they beset Sophia with questions