The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-06-12
CHAPTER V.
MRS. TEMPLE PLAYS THE PART OF MRS
SOBER

MRS TEMPLE PLAYS THE PART OF MRS
SOBER.
Prendergast remained to be nodded, and
our strategist took care to have an interview
with him before the great event of his pro-
posal came off For this dialogue she as
sumed a specially grave, not to say pious, air,
as she now fully understood Prendergasts
habit of mind.
at is q serious natter she said, in the
voice and face of her new character of Mrs
Sober. "fes, marriage is serious matter"
To this sentiment of which the force, like
| that of many popular sermon, lay rather in
| the delivery than in the matter, Prendergast
assented, and business began.
@You are going to propose to Sophia!7 she
said, in confidential tones; for, indeed, they
had chatted the affair over several times.
II am, with your permission.
Every well Are you above taking a hintg' ~
she paused here, for the most engaging smile
made up of self-confdence, self-depreciation,
and coquettish consciousness that all the
charms of her sex had not yet forsaken her
"are you above taking a hint from withered
old woman
"You must be going to take me to consult
S'AiC ciuCiif Itichu VI NVutsE Ht dllSWbTeu.
with successful raillery
Capital capitalr she cried, forgetting
Mrs. Sober, and clapping her hands "Ch,
Prendergast, l do wish you would be more
like that all the day round! 1t becomes you
vastly! o, l should make something of you,
too-in timer
Grave Prendergast could stand this no
longer. He burst into a laugh which our
little mother merrily echoed, until she again
remembered that seriousness was her part
to-day. Turning as solemn as Quakeress,
she asked
"But, seriously, will you take a hint!n
seriously, from you will take as many
hints as get"
"Well, then, remember this: Sophia is a
girl whose head is full of the idea of useful
ness and activity, and being elevated, and
eievating others, and-you can finish the
sentence better than |, for you hear more of
that sort of talk am not saying anything
against all that In its way, and at proper
times, it is very well; but / maintain and al
ways have done that it is not the thing Q
woman should live for Just fancy, my dear
Prendergast, what whole world full of
serious people would bel Serious people, and
nobody else Really, believe you serious
people would want a few of us sinners back to
tickle you littlel But this is not my business
We must take Sophia as she is. She has not
grown up in the way expected, but she is a
good girl, and amiable. When shall ! get
back to my points Sophia then, being SO
full of these notions of service and aspiration
and duty, and all the rest, in proposing to
her you must fiddle on that string-I mean u
said Mrs Sober, withdrawing this rather
fippant form of speech, "you must let her
know that such is your view of life also 1t
is, is it noti"
ut is" Prendergast answered, divided
quite between sincerity and amusement at the
singular little idol that chartered away before
him.
"Then be careful you let Sophy know it.
And, Prendcrgast, be careful, too, that you
tell Sophy that you have work in life
suppose you have-and that she is the woman
that can help you to perform it. Present
yourself before Sophia in that form, as man
| who has work to do-such a work as she
would approve of; such a work as she would
do herself if she could Tel her she can Civ,
you strength, guidance and all that sort Of
thing. This is the way such girl must be
carried. We none of us like to be thought
mere dolls, dressed for your drawing rooms,
and, least of all, do girls like Sophia like it.
Tell her you will go through the world lean.
ing on her, as they do in pictures, half sup
porting, half reclining. Tell her that you
will draw inspiration from her eyes and from
her character, and then Sophia is yours O.
wish / had been a man, just to teach the
| rest how to propose to usr
aWell, Mrs. Temple" Prendergast said, re
pressing bis smiles with no small difficulty,
there is great deal in what you say And
can assure you that whatever woman pro
posed to, Or thought should wish to propose
to, should mediate something of the kind
IF you really mean it." she said, "it will
come great deal better. 1t always does"
Surely You would not have me say what
did not meanw
1Fudge, Prendergast, to put it in that way
| In love making we Ore not understood IL
mean what we say No more than monarch
on the stage is understood to mean what be
says when he promises to bestow kingdoms on
people. He has two rooms meanwhile, which
he means to keep to hinself.) But in this
particular case, 4 you do mean it, why, Of