Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-07-09
BOOK SIX.
LADY BEAUTYS JOY.
CHAPTER |.

THE TlMEPIECE OF ONE GAY LIFE BEGINS
TO STRIKE TIE MIDNIGHT QUARTERS.
Sophia found her mother seated on the
edge of the bed pale and exhausted. but with
nothing about her to account for her maids
sudden excitement. The old woman passed
her hand feebly across her forehead, trying,
it seemed, to collect her thoughts, and then
began to speak.
"Have | been asleep' | must have been
asleep Where is Jones' Did | not see her
here' o, Sophy. | have had such an odd
dream. ! thought there was ball herein
this room, and yet my bed was here too and
lying on it, and between the dances a girl in
blue dress, whose face could not see, came
and sat on the bedside, and she had lover
with her, and they were toying and kissing,
and then l called out something and after
ward awoke suppose l awoke. had not
known | was asleep"
The maid subsequently told Sophia that,
so far as she knew, her mistress had not been
asleep at all; that all of sudden She began
to cnll out very loud, as if she We're sColding;
and that in the midst of "A torrent of words
she became deadly pale and seemed to faint
away. Seeing this the maid had rushed off
for Sophia and upon their return the old
woman was come to herself, and sitting
down Sophia had found her The doctor
being sent for, made the usual inquiries and
examinations, and ordered his patient to bed
for day or two, saying that she had over
taxed her strength; but when alone with
Sophia he told her that there had evidently
been an attack in the brain which might be
the forerunner of something very grave, or
might be only a symptom of weakness and
old age
THE latter l think he said as he was
loo FL. /,
should fancy, and her last decay has prob
ably begun. How long she may live no one
can say; but she will not be the same woman
again, ani the rest of her life will be going
down HILL how fast or how slow depends on
her constitution and our care
Il told YOU, Sophy, that | felt little
shaken" the old woman said, when her
daughter came back 10 her bedside Don't
you remember what | said about the peach
reesl \ little rest, Sophy, will set me up-a
little rest | have had a hard life of it, enjoy
ing myself; | don't feel tired of that in the
least, but every one wants rest sometimes
There followed the contraction Of life which
is the sure token of advancing age. Old Mrs.
Temple got up late; she seldom drove out,
and then only at the sunniest hours, and she
had all through the day her little delicaces-
turtle soup in tablespoons, champagne in tiny
glasses, and all the usual dainty forms Of
nourishment for wasting lives. Sophia re-
marked, however, that her mother was more
than over Solicitous about expense.
II declare il is sin to be eating this soup"
she would say. How much is this quartz
a guinea, daresay, And as to sending to
Gunter's Sophy, it is waste, sinful waste.
You would get it quite as good at the confec-
toners here. Fancy if went on with cham
md trtln ~. yD,.
two, why, money would come to an end,
Sophy-money would come TO an end
Everything pointed in one direction: Mrs.
Temple was living on capital; and she
dreaded the approaching exhaustion of her
means. Sophia tried to get some knowledge
of her affairs
Gould not do that for you, mammal she
asked one day, as the old woman was fgur-
ing over her bank book
"Eou, Sophy!" she answered, with CLEAN
of her former vivacity. You, dear childl
you would not know which side is which
which is the mother and which the b nker'
Let Archibald help you, then" Sophia re-
joined
"Archibald indeed the old woman ex-
claimed That great man stopping to my
little bit of business would be like camel
trying to get through a needles eve. No,
thank YOU,
Elsewhere, too some CLEANS of her old
spirit broke through the clouds of weakness
and illness, Int Sophia, watching her mar
rowly, thought the vivacity only assumed
Even now she fanced she could discern a
look of deeper care on the old womans face
as she returned to her calculations. Next
day they drove to the bank and feeble as
Mrs Temple was she insisted on going in
alone; and she had long interview with the
When she came ont she showed
Sophia roll of notes.
1.-TWO hundred and fifty pounds, Sophy,"
she said, 81 shall put it in my drawer, and
If | am not able to get ont again this winter
there will he money enough to go on with.
don't wish anyone to go to the bank about
my business again-mind that; and You need
not pay amy bills just at present. What
ready money is wanted We can take out of
this "