Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-07-02
BEAUTYS SECRET.

BY ALAN MUIR.

diiu WHICH We was W Dt sure nOU 10 forget 10
ask for"
This was delivered in recitation style, like
something got carefully off by heart.
"Dear me" exclaimed Mrs. Temple, with
uplifted hands How could have forgotten
it! Sophia, my dear, you must entertain Mr.
Prenderga,t for twenty minutes or half an
hour. 1t is nm important letter, and will
take quite that time to write. How very
stupid have bccn!"
Aud without single glance at Prender-
CAST the very stupid woman left the room,
but not until she saw Sophia's blush return
with deeper glow.
All she thought. 'now for pretty
scene! the merry days when we were
youngw
When our little mother returned to the
drawing room she saw Prendergast Standing
alone in the center of the floor His look
told her nothing, but as She came toward
him, he said very earnestly:
"Mrs Temple, your daughter is an angel'
Victory! The little mother could have
skipped on the carpet for triumph; hut reco-
Letting that it would not be busincss-lke to
seem too much delighted. she restrained her
self, and said:
al see She has accepted YOU"
"No, She has not.
yes yes; but that is only girls way;
virtually she has accepted you, and you know
it
"NIrs Temple. She will never marry me"
"What do You mcant The shock was great
and Mrs Temple found it hard to speak
"Smplv that your daughter has explained
to me her position and the state of her alTac-
tons She has been so kind, so frank. SO Ike
all thought sh" must be, that am more in
love with her than ever. But | know the
truth and vii, no longer STRUGGLE AGAINST if
/. 1, 1 l.. 1
no more. and for nearly a minute the nimhle
little tongue and versatile little brain of his
hostess were at fault. But she collected her
spirits
prem orgast. " she said in tone that was
dry and even contrmrtuous. that is not the
way to win woman like SopLia."
"Perhaps not, lie answered: but it is the
only way | can follow" Even she was for
the moment dumb and he became silent
again. hut he reused himself and spoke afro,h:
"Thc ia is. / have been rclnkel to ni.,bt.
Ten years ago loved woman something
like your daughter. and She died before our
marriage Over her grave | vowed to live
for her memory. and that vow kept until
this year: and Tonight as Sophia was su,ak-
ing to me- it seemed as if nv own buI.iol dear
one came from her pLo le of hnnpiucs. AMI
babe me-"
"Prendergas, " Mrs. Barbara Tcmple said.
with poilted a,.rimonv. "the lei is near Won,
viii Won RING for tea,
1t will he admitted hy everybody that. from
Mrs. Temples POINT OF view. her situation
was decidedly irritating She was angry with
Premier asst and bitterly angry with Souhia.
To a plotting. planning. nature like r., nnth.
ing is so vcxati.us as a failure such "A, this.
She wa, WORKING for sophia, good: She had
arranged everything So as to inslr, success:
at the last moment Sophia stupidity ,poils all,
Wicked was the look with which she regarded
her daughter. wh,n after Prcnd, ,ast'S de
parturc Sophia shvly stole into the room and
took her seat al tie tea table. Mrs. Barbara
opcnod fire. so SoIhin prcud,.t.,ast has
proposed to YOU.
"Yes. mamma"
"And YOU have accepted his offer. of
course"
The little woman put the question in this
way, with kind of concentrated viciou,-
ness which mad. sophia tremble.
NO, mamma" the Door girl said. doins,
what undoubtedly was wisest at the nnc-
ture. and breaking into sohs. 81 could not.
mamma. | could not marry him
"Sophia.' the mother said rising from her
seat AID standing le.ore her daughter. won
are weak girl don't say YOU have done
wrong, but | say you are weak girl Weak
ness, of all things, | hate. Sibyl would not
have acted in this way Caroline would not
You have neither sense nor spirit and it i,
Notifying to me to think that the daughter
who is least like myself and least dutitul, is
the one with whom | must, suppose, pass
the remainder o: my life"
This was most unkind 81 ecch but we
must remember how bitterly the little woman
was disappointed; and we must remember,
too that she did not often lose her temper
SOplla. who MIGHT DerhapS at oOntbar TINA