Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-07-09

'h' VI lEl' b'iolhT sunshine ana some Nnltl
of her own feelings had put her in good spirits
that morning
Very pleasant. dear" the little mother re-
marked, shaking hcr head soberly. Somehow
her whole style of speech was relaxing in
energy; her words were pitched low; She did
not speak with her former decision Presently
she said
You must remember young Mr.. Doan was
never in trade; and beside, Sophia, he will
settle twenty thousand pounds on you.'
Can't b. had under forty, mamma Sophia
seemed resolved to treat the matter in this
jocular way 1t was plain that she realized
that She and her mother had changed posi-
tons; she was virtually mistress now; there
might be argument, but no struggle of will
"Siha'nt cry cherry ripe under forty thou
sand pounds, mamma" And Sophia tossed
her head aud looked saucy and engaging, and
cheap at double the money.
"Now listen to me, Sophia" her mother
said. You will never have such another
ofer-from a money point of view
"Nell, mamma. | will be serious, Sophia
answered, suting her face to her words. ~
would not marry that man for anything he
could give me. To begin with, | know what
his life ha, been"
"Now my dear Sophia" her mother said,
with deprecating gesture, II will not hear
anything about his manner of life. The men
are all in fault in that way
gone | know is not Sophia tenderlv
thought, claspng her darling's memory to
her heart
"All are in fault that way" continued Mrs.
Temple. "Somc let us know it, others man
age to hide it. In fact. all are alike. And,
indeed Sophia better marry a man who, be
fore marriage. has-has-Seen the uOrd,
than one who will make you unhappy after.
The wilder the bachelor, the steadier the hus-
band, so | often have found it
Now You don't mean it, mamma; you
know you don't
Il do mean it, indeed dear and, besides,
whose fault is it if men are wild: Ours, my
dear: ours alone. We are so fond of con-
quest and impression that We never leave
them alone We get them into the habit of
mind, dear. Have | not watched womcnl
More especially if man is at all celebrated,
we long to make an impression. All women
do My dear Sophia. the greatest prude that
ever lived i, pleased if she hears that cele-
bratcd man adnires her. BE he married or
single she will not care: She had rather have
the tribute of admiration than not have it..
q, Sophia We are quite as much to blame as
the men We all like to have them at our
feet; liked it myself, dear"
Mamma"
when they are celebrated, dear, remark
able, worth catching, You know"
"What i Mr. Done celebrated for" Sophia
asked, Scornfully.
Money, dear. As good thing as any
other Some men are conspicuou, for fortune,
Others for looks others for talent, others for
family But when q man is conspicuous for
anything, women like to have his admiration,
and that i, how half the men are spoiled,
dear; do it ourselves. Why. even if n
man is conspicuous for virtue, most of us
would like to bring him to the ground-to
have him sigh for us only once; and then we
can toss our heads and he aS good a, We
please. Our vanity is gratified.'
"Now, mamma" Sophia said rather
shocked at this speech, and not knowing
whether her mother was serious or not, but
resolved to treat it as jocular, "thi, i, only
your merry way; do be serious
Il WILL dear, if You will I've serious, too"
"There-l am serious now
VERY well, then. Try and make up your
mind to- marry this young man Twenty
thousand pounds sophia
Mamma. figure, would not write the sum
that | would marry him for. He is vulgar,
selfish, odious fellow. Marry him" Sophia
shivered As when some one walks over our
grave Call him husbandw
She made a grimace which her mother
could not have surpassed, and which clinched
the discussion
Very well, Sophy," the old woman said
sinking back in her armchair rather YEARLY
you must have your own way, Only re-