The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-06-12
CHAPTER VI.
MRS. TEMPLE REVIEWS HER c


The labors Of the day were over. The
| whole assault had been planned. In her bed
room Mrs Barbara Temple sat like a general
in his tent the night before the battle. She
was reviewing her forces, measuring their
strength, settling the order in which they
should advance.
at is important, howex ,r Sophia may af-
feet to despise it, that Prendergast's wealth,
and what it will do for her, should be put be-
fore her fairly. ! can trust Sibyl for that;
no one would manage it better than Sibyl"
She paused as her first company passed
mentally before her to the battle The ar
ray satisfied her Then she fixed on the next.
"Duty-obedience. Sophia has always
laid great stress on these, and not in affecta-
ton either. o, no, she means what she says.
lsWell, l think when Goldmore talks to her
about parents authority think it will
move her."
And so the second company marched past
under the generals approving eyes. Num-
Der three came in view
"Her affection for me is genuine Dear
girl" the little mother said, with warming
of her heart, "she does love mel Well, what
then! love her, and am doing the best for
her. When Caroline tells her that this mar
riage will satisfy me and make me happy,
believe she will yield. And Car will do that
for me- and do it effectively Oh, yes; trust
Car
And so company three went by, and was
approved. Which was number four? Yes,
she remembered.
Il wonder will Mr. Brent bear in mind
what told him! | think | shall drop him
line to refresh his memory and to bind him to
secrecy. If he manages well he might ac-
complish more than any but he may blunder
nay, he is the sort of man who will blunder
| if he can"
And so, warned by little frown from the
commander, company four went by Com
pany five-Oh. well she knew it; with this
she was to conquer
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. he is my main
stay after all. o, yes; he will touch Sophia
| at the very heart. And he will say all wish
There is one thing about these serious people:
they are half deceiving themselves and half
deceiving others, and so they assume most
valuable appearance of earnestness. Now, |
| could not, to save my life, pretend to be in
terested in being useful; but I suppose |
| should be more telling in serious society if
| could. Prendergast will sermonize about op-
portunity and duty, and Sophia will listen,
Just as she listens at church, can see her
now-and the woman who listens to a sutton
like Prendergast is-married"
And so the whole army was reviewed; the
forces were irresistible stroke after stroke,
Sophia would be conquered at last
And now let me see," the little mother
continued, throwing herself back in her chair
as she pondered her own responsibility in the
transaction. u am worldly woman; / am
making match for my daughter which is
worldly wise-nothing more and nothing
less; am doing all fairly can to urge her
to this marriage, pressing her on by every
| means in my power. Well am | wrong
Why, even on the showing of good people or
romantic people am marrying her to a man
who is in every way likely to make her happy,
although she may not yet acknowledge it.
He is good, upright and kind And then on
my showing am giving her a position in so
ciety, snatching her from a mistaken engage
ment from years of waiting which are sure
to end in solitary disappointment or in we'd
ded poverty Give me for my daughters a
life well carpeted, well cushioned, well fur
| nished, well dressed, and my head for it if in
ten years time they are not the first to say to
the old mother: You were right, after all )
Yes, the good people talk about doing right
and not pleasing yourself; | do right-and
please myself, too Sophy, Sophy, tomorrow
night you will be engaged to Prendergast. !,
shall have done it; have done it already.
And if You drop few romantic tears-why,
tears are soon wiped off; but wealth, fortune
position-tbese remain from day to day, and
from year to year and these make life, let
saints and poets say what they please
So having settled matters with her con-
science in this frank and fearless way, orr
little mother laid her down to sleep; and she
slept that light. semi-conscious slumber COM
mon with those who know that upon the COM
ing day great triumph shall be theirs,