Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-06-18

evening SO atfoCtlOnatH 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,
stroled 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, at is ten
years this month since were in Paris. |
have fancy to go over there before the
weather gets too hot. Would you like it"
Anywhere with you, dear" Sophy replied,
chccrfully She was determined not to NOPE,
and to begin early.
That's pleasant" the mother answered,
with beaming look. 1--WE shall start this
day week
Dresses had to be ordered, hotels had to be
chosen, n hundred preparations had to lbs
made and Mrs, Temple saw with cxutaton
that Sophia entered into all the plans with
great spirit The mother read in this a ign
that already Percival was fading out Of mind
Il was sure he would the little woman said
to herself. "Of course he must as time goes
on
They stayed a month in Paris and the
whole of the time she managed to keep So
phia entertained in the most dircrtng way
They had friends there, and the days were
passed in a set of choice little pleasures: and
whatever that ncxhauStible purse Of Mrs
Temples could do TO FURNISH the hours was
done with her own taste and tact.
II shall show Sophia what the world isl"
the worlds wor,hipcr said to herself; and
the Australian boy will soon vanish from her
mind and love in cottage with him. Cot
tagc. indeed, not if you can get a house; and
not house if You can get mansion! O,
it is wonderful how slow Sophia is to see the
value OF life But she is beginning and with
her good sense she will soon he able to teach
instead of being taught"
And Low, to Mrs. Temples unspeakable
qualification, there appeared on the scene a
man who was plainly thinking of making
Sophia an offer Had the little woman been
choosing a sutton she could not-so she said
afterward-have made a more promising selec-
ton | must not say much about him He
was ten years Sophia's senior, sedate hut not
gloomy in his manner, his fortune ample,
his birth high, and his appearance was con-
sidered progressing He had long been resi-
dent in the neighborhood of kettlewell 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 he 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 time he did not seem to
have even noticed Sophia, but at last he
! 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 call
ing upon them, and you may be sure he
was graciously received His conversation
pleased Sophia, that was plain; and Mrs
Temple watching him. saw in his manner
that which DELIGHTED her beyond e.presson
Next day fresh invitation came from the
friend at whose house they had first met-just
hasty party, the note said.
Aha little Mrs Temple said to herself,
"a hasty party! Got up at the instigaton of
Prendergast, | dare swear Sherwood and
he are such friends. If Prendergast does not
take Sophia down to dinner, | am much mis-
taken"
He did And he proved a genial com
panion, with plenty of talk of the quieter
sort He could interest cultivated women,
being artistic and literary, without being a
pedant or a bore--that, at least, was his
friends opinion of him.
Don't YOU think Mr.. Prenderxast very
eutartaining" the mother asked ms they
drove home.
VERY" Sophia replied, cmphaticallv.
The little woman nearly skipped off her seal
for triumph.
During these early DAYS Mrs. Temple coult
never quite make out whether or not Sophif
perceived that this promising Mr. Prendergas
was in love with her. In love he clearly was
but hi, manner was so unobtrusive. and hi
general conversation so lively. that ever
Sophia might not have detected what wa
plaiu TO the watching ewes of her mother. |
was nice point for Mrs Temple to settle
Sonhio evidently enioved their new friend
society. and as She was no coouett,-not a
much as She ou,,bt to Inc her mother used f
sov-sha must either have FORGOTTEN one love
or NOT reco,rnizaI the other Which was fin
fact Mrs Temple lonred 70 know. Some
t times She III ght Souhia was in reality pre
occuniod - oplv assumed - vivocitv +
, cover her mt of interest Al other time,
|