The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-06-19

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her glass and dressed herself for rivalry or
conquest, she could not have looked more
lovely. just as an accomplished writer when
he is thinking least of form will throw off his
most finished piece, SO Sophia, who was true
mistress of the art of dress, did this evening,
when her thoughts were far enough from the
toilet, deck herself out in way which most
of all displayed her charms Mrs. Barbara
Temple marked her as she sat
when Prendergast comes" that keen
witted woman said to herself having ar
ranged that he was to appear accidentally
after dinner, when Prendergast comes, and
sees you, if the sight does not unlock his lips,
ne is not the man take him for!"
Perceiving Sophia's melancholy air, the lit
tie mother assumed the same herself She
was tacituIn, thoughtful, sighed, and in
everything reflected her daughters sadness.
This was supreme high art; it was saying to
Sophia, ''if you are heavy at heart, so am |;
/, too, am facing great anxiety" And SO
effectually did she play her part that, to-
ward the end of dinner, Sophia, rousing her
self by an effort, tried to talk cheerfully.
Mrs Barbara felt thrill of reasonable pride
in this recognition of her power as a success
full dissembler. Instead of feeling low spir.
tied she was, in truth, highly excited iii view
of her approaching triumph. She felt that
Sophin was in her hands The pensive look,
tirnid voice, and downcaSt eyes, all told one
story to her: the girl had no resistance left.
She would accept Prendergast that night
No sooner had they got into the drawing
room than Mrs. Barbara asked Sophia to sing
! to her
ayes, mamma Sophia said, looking at
her wistfully. q will sing or play or do any
thing you like"
This compliant speech meant, and well the
mother knew it: "If you would only use Inc
| for your own pleasure, how happy We both
| might bel7 Mrs Barbara Temple under
| stood, but did not regard; she was hent or
| marriage.
Sophia sat down and began her favorite
| "Oft 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 exerting
| herself unduly, she was able so to occupy her
| mothers ear that Prendergast entered the
| room unohserved, and was standing beside
| Mrs. Barbara before she knew it The little
mother gave him sprightly nod of silent
| 10 lIlt Sttg- diNt ittIt
slowly turning her eyes from him to Sophia,
and fixing them on her, she seemed to say;
| rs she not woman worth winning"
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 loveliest 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 mistake, was ready
to clap her hands.
"She loves him, she loves him" the little
conqueror murmured to herself. See what
management does O, what woman am"
Almost before another word was spoken,
Mrs. Temples maid came into the room and,
advancing to her mistress, said:
"Please, aam, is the letter ready
"What letter, jones'
The letter, ma'am, you said was so very
particular. which must go by to-night's post,
l
| 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..
Prendergast for twenty minutes or half an
hour. 1t is an important letter. and will
take quite that time to write. How very
stupid have BEEN"
| And 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.
"Ah," she thought, now for a pretty
scene o the merry days when we were
young,"
When our little mother returned to the
drawing room she saw Prendergast ding
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, but recol-
| Letting that it would not be business like &c
seem too much delighted, she restrained her
self, and said:
Il see She has accepted you"
"No. she has not
| Eyes, yes; bat 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 it hard to speak.
Simply that your daughter has explained
to me her position and the state of her affec
| tons She has been SO kind so frank, so likt
all thought she must be, that am more in
love with her than ever But l know tht
truth, and will no longer struggle against it
He dropped his head on his breast and said
no more, and for nearly a minute the nimblt
little tongue and versatile little brain of hi.
hostess were at fault. But she collected hel
spirits.
"Prendergast, she said in tone that wa
dry and even contemptuous, that is not the
way TO win woman like Sophia"
"Perhaps not" be answered; "but it is thu
only way can follow Even she was fol
the moment dumb, and he became silen
again, but he reused himself and spoke afresh
"The fact is, [ have been rebuked tonight
Ten years ago | loved a woman something
like your daughter and she died before oul
marriage Over her grave | 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 ans
babe ME"
"Prendergast,n Mrs. Barbara Temple said
with pointed acrimony, "the bell is near you
Will you ring for tea!"
1t will be admitted by everybody that, iron
Mrs. Temples point Of view, her situation
was decidedly irritating. She was angry will
Prendergast, and bitterly angry with Sophia
To plotting, planning nature like hers moth
ing Is so vexatious as failure such as this
She was working for Sophia's good she hai
arranged everything so as to insure success
Mt the last moment Sophia stupidity spoils all
Wicked was the look with which she regarde.
her daughter, when, after Prendergasts de
parture Sophia shyly stole into the room am
took her seat at the tea table. Mrs. Barbar
opened fire: $50, Sophia Prendergast ha
proposed to your
"Yes, mamma"
"And you have accepted his offer, G
courseH
The little woman put the question in thi
way, with a kind of concentrated viciou,
ness which made Sophia tremble