The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1886-05-26
CHAPTER VT


SLEEPING WOMAN KISSING PICTURE
And now, the fell being clear for her
operations. our little Agamemnon in petit
coats prepared for her part of the affair. She
was fully determined 20 root out of her
daughters mind the memory of Percivl
Brent, and to marry Sophia brilliantly be
fore many months were out No sooner had
the young lover depart than she perceived
how much she had fuTthered her own ends
by her indulgence to her daughter these last
few days, especially at the parting hour.
Sophia was quite tender with her whtn they
met, kissed her, fondled her, and was all the
evening so affectionate amid her hardly-re-
pressed grief, that the little plotting woman
began to discover n 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, cit Ia ten
years this month since we we're in Paris.
have a fancy to go over there before the
weather gets too hot, Would you like itl'
Anywhere with you, dear" Sophy replied,
cheerfully. She was determined not to nope,
and to begin early
"Thas's pleasant" tho mother answered
with beaming look. I'VE shall start this
dav week"
Dresses had TO be ordered, hotels had to be
chosen, hundred preparations had to be
made, and Mrs. Temple saw with exultation
that Sophia entered into al the plans with
great spirit. The mother read in this sign
that already Percival was fading out Of mind
Il was sure he would" the little woman said
to herself 1Of course he must as time goes
ON
They stayed a month in Paris, and the
whole of the tiTne she managed TO keep So
phia entertained in the most diverting way.
They had friends there, and the days wers
passed in a set of ch01ce little pleasures; and
whatever that inexhaustible purse of Mrs
Temples could do to burnish the hours was
done with her own taste and tact
Il shall show Sophia what the world isl~
the worlds wcrshiper said to herself; Sand
the Australian boy will soon vanish from her
mind, and love in cottage with him. Cot
tage indeedi not If you can get house; and
not house if you can get a mansionI o,
it is wonderful how slow Sophia Is to see the
value of lifel But she is beginning, and with
her good sense she viii soon be abe to teach
instead Of being taught"
And now, to Mrs. Temples unspeakabl.
qualification, there appeared on the scene q
man who was plainly thinking of making
Sophia an offer. Had the little woman been
choosing a suitor she could notr-so she said
afterward have made more promising seleo-
ton | must not say much about him. He
was ten years Sophia's senior, sedate but not
gloomy in bis manner, his fortune was ample,
his birth high, and his appearance was con-
sidered prePossessing He had long been resi-
dent in the neighborhood of Kettlewel, 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 he 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 hs
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 cali
ing upon them, and you may be sure he
was graciously received. His conversation
pleased Sophia, that was plain; ana Mrz
Temple. watching him, saw in his manner
that which delighted her beyond expression
Next day fresh invitation came from the
friend at Whose house they had first met-Jtts.
hasty party, the note said
aAha,n little Mrs. Temple said to herself.
"a hasty party Got up at the instigation Of
Prendergast, l dare swear. Sherwood and
he are such friends If Prendergast does not
take Sophia down to dinner i am much mis-
taken
He did And he proved genial com
panion. with plenty Of talk of 4he quieter
sort. He could interest cultivated women,
being artistic and literary, without being
pedant or a bore-that, at least, was his
friends opinion of him
@Don't you think Mr.. Prenderzast very
entertainingz7 the mother asked they
drove home
"Very," Sophia replied. emphaticaIly.
The little woman nearly skipped off her seat
for triumph
During these early days Mrs. Temple could
never quite make out whether or not Sophia
perceived that this promisn Mr. Prendergast
was in love with her. In love he clearly was,
but his manner was so unobtrusive, and his
general conversation so lively, that even
Sophia might not have detected what was
plain to the watching eyes of her mother. It
was nice point for Mrs. Temple to settle
Sophia evidently enjoyed their now friends
society, and as she was no coquette-not as
much as she ought to be, her mother used 70
say-she must either have forgotten one lover
or not recognized the other. Which was the
fact Mrs Temple longed to know Some
times she thought Sophia was Ia reality pre-
occupied, and only assumed vivacity TO
cover her want Of interest. At otr~- lines,
and more frequently, Mrs Temple ieit con-
WINGED that she was truly pleased with Prem
dergast. and would. after decent interval,
confess her satisfaction
At last an evening came when Prendergasb
calliag in upon the Temples, founa zoe
mother and daughter at home, aud, afser
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