Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1886-06-11

sOft in the Silly Night" and finely she sang
It, the melancholy ditty serving as a vehicle
for her own sorrows. Her voice was a power
full contralto, and, without at all e~xerting
herself unduly, she was able so to occupy her
mothers ear that Prendergast entered the
room unobserved, and was standing beside
Mrs. Barbara before she knew it. II little
mother gave him a sprightly nod Of silent
recognition not to disturb the song, and then,
| slowly turning her eyes from him to Sophia,
and fixing them on her, she seemed to say:
rs she not a woman worth winnings"
And Prendergast met her returning look
with a look of his own, full of tender admit
ration, which conveyed his thought in reply;
and just then Sophia, ending her song, saw
that Prendergast was behind her. Surprise
and some other emotion, sent over her FACE
the l~oveliest blush surely that ever woman
wore, and it seemed to spread until her neck
was touched with its conscious hue. Prem
dergast read it as an omen that at last she
had begun to feel kindly toward him, and he
could scarcely speak to her for the pleasure
he felt. And Mrs. Barbara Temple, who
never in her life made a mistake, was ready
to clap her hands.
"She loves him! she loves himI" the little
conqueror murmured to herself. "See what
management doesl o, what a woman | amP
Almost before another word was spoken,
Mrs. Temples maid came into the room, and,
advancing to her mistress, said:
"Please, ma'am, is the letter readyp
"Wlat letter, JonesT
1.-THE letter, ma'am, you said was so very
particular, which must 60 by to-night's pest,
and which we was to be sure not to forget to
ask for"
This was delivered in recitation style, Like
something got carefully off by heart.
"Dear mel" exclaimed Mrs. Temple, with
uplifted hands. "How could have forgotten
it'll Sophia, my dear, you must entertain MIR.
Prendergast for twenty minutes or half an
hour. 1t is an important letter, and will
take quite that time to write. How very
stupid l lave been!"
And without a single glance at Prender-
CAST the very stupid woman left the room,
but not until she saw Sophia's blush return
with deeper glow.
"Ah," she thought, "now for a pretty
scenel o the merry days when we were
young!"
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 angelr
Victory! The little mother could have
skipped on the carpet for triumph; but recol-
lecting that it would not be business-like to
seem too much delighted, she restrained her
self, and said:
"Isee. She has accepted you"
"No, she has not"
eyes, yes; but that is only a girls way
virtually she has accepted you, and you know
it,
"Mrs. Temple, she will never marry me-"
"What do you meanT' The shock was grea
and Mrs. Temple found 1t hard to speak.
simply that your daughter has explained
to me her position and the state of her affec
tions. She has been so kind, so frank, so Xix,
all l thought she must be, that am more il
love with her than ever. But l know thu
truth, and will no longer struggle against it.
He dropped his head on his breast and sale
no more, and for nearly a minute the nimbl'
little tongue and versatile little brain of hi
hostess were at fault But she collected hel
spirits.
"Prendergast," she said in a tone that wa
dry and even contemptuous, "that is not tn
way to win a woman like Sophia"
"Perhaps not" he answered; but it is tn
only way l can follow" Even she was TO
the moment dumb, and he became silen
again, but he reused himself and spoke afresh
uT1o f..A e, 7 I--a La.- I.I1l l. ILL
Ten years ago | loved a woman somethin,
like your daughter, and she died before on
marriage. Over her grave l vowed to liv
for her memory, and that vow l kept unit
this year; and tonight, as Sophia was speak
ing to me, it seemed as if my own buried dea
one came from her abode Of happiness an
babe me-"
"Prendergast," Mrs. Barbara Temple said
with pointed acrimony, "the bell is near you
Will you ring for teal"
1t will be admitted by everybody that, iron
Mrs. Temples point Of view, her situation
was decidedly irritating. She was angry witt
Prendergast, and bitterly angry with Sophia
To a plotting, planning nature like hers moth
ing is so vexatious as a failure such as this
She was working for Sophia's good; she hat
arranged everything SO as to insure success
at the last moment Sophia stupidity spoils all
Wicked was the look with which she regarde,
her daughter, when, after Prendergast's de
parture, Sophia shyly stole into the room an
took her seat at the tea table. Mrs. Barbara
opened fire: $50, Sophia, Prendergast la
proposed to youf"
"Yes, mamma"
"And you have accepted his offer, O
course9'
The little woman put the question in thi
way, with a kind Of concentrated vicious
ness which made Sophia tremble.
"No, mamma" the poor girl said, doinj
what undoubtedly was wisest at the juno
ture, and breaking into sobs. II could not
mamma, l could not marry him."
Sophia" the mother said, rising from he
seat and standing before her daughter, "yor
are a weak girl l don't say you have don
wrong, but | say you are a weak girl. Veal
ness, of all things, / hate. Sibyl would no
have actSd in this way. Caroline would moi
You have neither sense nor spirit, and it
notifying to me to think that the daughte
who is least like myself, and least dutiful,
the one with whom l must, l suppose, pas
the remainder Of my life."
This was a most unkind speech; but W
must remember how bitterly the little woma
was disappointed; and w must remember
too, that she did not often lose her temper
Sophia, who might perhaps at another tim
have defended herself, was really broke
down by the succession Of the days excite
ment, and only sobbed the more. He
mothers last sarcasm had wounded her ii