The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1886-06-16


very well, Sophy,r the old woman said,
sinking back in her armchair rather wearily,
you must have your own way. Only re-
member, dear, when l am gone, YOU had the
chance of wealth and ease before left you"
The word alarmed Sophia afresh. She was
certain now of what her future would be;
but she put on bright face
"Never mind, mamma, you are not going
TO leave me Yet; and when you do, if all else
fails, | can sew gloves at twopence a pair;
but viii not marry man the very thought
of whom makes my flesh creep. Oh, mamma,
mamma, Sophia cried, relapsing into gayety
now that her point was won, for making you
dislike an offer, there's nothing like leather. =
CHAPTER TX.
IN WHICH s0PHIAis ETES FILL NTH TEARS
For some reason, which l cannot divine,
Sophia trested the proposal Of the leather
merchants son as an affront. The matter
oozed out-in KettIewen everything did ooze
out sooner or later; and to one or two init
mate friesds who spoke 10 her ON the subject
Sophia expressed herself with a sarcasm
which was perhaps not fair, and was GER
tainly not prudent. Some kind friend was at
the pains of telling young John Done in what
terms of ridicule and contempt Sophia had
own person does not come before us, and il is
enough to say that certain disclosures which
reached poor Sophia's ears about this time
concerning the conduct of Percival Brent in
Australia were indirectly communicated to
her by her insulted admirer, who, as has
been said, had met Sophias lover when
abroad
There resided in Eettlewell widow of good
family and small fortune, by name Mrs.
Hands; and Mrs Hands. relishing the fat
living of the house of Done, and the house of
Done being gratified 10y the aroma of aris-
tocracy which hung around Mrs Hands,
there came about an alliance between the
two, offensive and defensive, which was al
ways most enthusiastically maintained on the
widows side about lunch and dinner hour.
Mrs. Hands was a woman who had seen
great deal OF the world and could converse
agreeably. She bad a beautiful set of teeth
which made her smile great deal, and a
jolly laugh which caused people to feel com
Portable, and between the laugh and the
smile She had reputation for thorough good
nature. She was known in every house in
kettlewell; She carried gossip with the
punctuality OF postman; she had broken Off
two matches by her solitary act and deed,
she was "A kind OF parlor earthquake, making
splits and fissures and shalings innumerable
in hitherto stable households: and vet for all
this the true character of Mrs. Hands was
not suspected, ana everybody said she was
such good -humored woman that it was
pleasure even to see her. Which showS
reader, what can be done with beautiful set
of teeth, and a smile and jolly laugh dis
creetiy inserted in the talk now and then.
Mrs Hands was no favorite with Mrs. Tenn
pie That prudent woman, mindful of an
enemys craft and malice, never said what
she thought of the widow; but she knew, and
the widow knew. In her way, Mrs. Hands
feared the superior and more scientific world
ling, as was shown by the contraction of her
smile and the reduction of her laughter when
ever Mrs. Temple was by. But Sophia liked
the widow and thought she had good heart
One morning, about four months after the
Done episode, Mrs. Hands called on Sophia;
and there was to be seen on her face a re-
markable solcitude and depression, so much,
that Sophia asked, after a little casual talk,
if anything had disturbed her.
"Distllrbed met" the widow exclaimed. 20,
Sophia, my heart is bleeding this morningl"
"For WHAT" Sophia asked. "For anybody
l know"
"For yourself, dear girl Now l will not
keep You in suspense Is it not true-l know
it is true-that you are still in your heart
keeping up with the clergyman's son, Percival
Brentg'
Sophia turned as white as death. Two or
three strange whispers about Percival had
reached her ears from different quarters in
the last three weeks.
"Have you any news of him2 Is he ill.'
she asked, and yet illness was not what she
feared
Sophia, dear girl the widow said, re-
- -
ened-by what art or emotion | know not,
nor could the widow have told herself
"Percival Brent is a bad young man-un-
worthy of you-unworthy of your love"
"What do you meanP Sophia asked, draw
ing herself up with "A kind of proud rebuke,
which yet had threatening of tears in its
very indignation. Nothing bad can be true
of him. u
Nothing good, Sophia" the widow re-
piled, shaking her head religiously. at is
sad for me to tell it 10 you, but it is my duty,
dear-and my privilege, too; for who would
see you sacrificed to such fellowl7
"You must not talk so, Sophia said, in a
less resolute tone.
"In the first place, dear, he has not been
successful in his trade-business, whatever
you call it. He has lost every thing-or the
person with whom he was IN partnership has
lucky anyhow-Brent is nowhere at all in
money matters"
@That he cannot help" Sophia said, and her
heart revived
sPerhaps net, dear; but he could help being
idle, being fond of fast company, being fond
of drink-or, at least, of being at places where
people do drink-and all that sort of thing.
This has been his ruin, for ruined he is
Il don't see much in what you say" Sophia
replied Whenever a young man fails In
life, people are ready to blame him, and ready
to say 'Wha could you expectf and all that"
ayes; but smoking, dear--drinking-
society,"
'Wel. be always smoked, and he always
drank wine" Sophia answered hotly. Il
suppose once he has taken a little too much,
and of course spiteful people say that he
drinks and has ruined himself by it.
Had she really spoken her whole mind she
would have said: @One offense he has never
committed-he has never been false to me;
and therefore his peccadilloes shall be for
given"
sSophia, Sophial" the widow exclaimed,
@there is more than that How Young you are
to think that such things ever go alonel PER
cival is-weIl, my dear, he is not over partic-
ular about his morals, and that's the long and
short of it,"
"Tell me all you know Sophia exclaimed,
turning on her visitor almost fercely, and
with eyes that enforced an instantaneous re-
ply:
TO you
dMarriedi7 Sophia gasped. @to-to Bessie
Warren.p
@Never heard that name,H replied the
widow And he is not married, but great
deal worse He is well known out therefor
his liking for fast women, and he has made
quite scandal of himself with an actress
a married woman, believe, only her husband
is in England, / am told
How do you know all thisE' Sophia asked.
Her voice was scarcely audible; for she was
now sure that her lover was false
@One of my little birds told me, the widow
replied, with a jauntiness that sickened poor
Sophia Forget him, dear. Be girl Of
spirit. Treat him as be deserves"
@How do you know all thisp Sophia re-
peated, putting her hand to her forehead and
speaking in a tone Of genuine anguish -Tell
me how you know iti"
@Well dear, if you must hear everything
and perhaps it is better-look hero"
The widow drew from her muf a news
paper, and opening il, pointed to marked
paragraph. The paper was an Australian
one, and the paragraph, as will be seen. was
composed with that engaging ease and light
ness of touch which are characteristic OF GER
tain colonial journals
CARRIAGE ACCIDENT IN THE SUBURBs.-
Yesterday evening as Percival Brent was
driving Mrs Lanigan to the theatre after a
pleasant lunch in the country, the horses ran
away, probably having had too much Moee
g. Chandon--a beverage which, though II
never affects the driver, is sometimes KNOWN
to have an exciting effect ON the sfeeds-
After a wild career through the streets the
vehicle was turned over close by the theatre
and the occupants thrown into the street.
after which, lightened of their load, the me
briated animals proceeded to drag Ine Ven,c1 l.e
to smash with amazing celerity. Young Per
ciyaI got a heavy cut on the left temple, pus