The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1886-05-26
REAUTY's SECRET!



sS5pbia BEGAN. aOft IN the Stiny Night,' and
nav mo do,lb, because the theme touched
her she sang with great expression and ten
dernsss, and her admirer stood over her,
radiant with love and admiration
40 that ! could see her' murInured Mrs.
barbara. She scanned Sophia eagerly when
the song xas finished, but her expression said
neither syes7 nor mo-" Shortly after,
Prendergast bid them good night. and re-
strained, as his manner usually was, he now,
either through accident or with design, let
Sophia know the state Of his heart Mrs
Barbara Temple saw flush come out on her
daughters pale face as she withdrew her
hand from his
Snow we shall see" thought the little
woman "Very pr sttily be managed il, too
] observed nothing.
She resolved not TO ask Sophia any ques-
ton until next morning; but after she had
retired a little while, curiosity got the letter
Of her. and in her dainty dressing gown she
crossed over 20 her daughters room. and
tapping gently al the door stepped in
she saw-not what she expected Sophia
was not at her glass, nor chatting to her
mail, nor gone 10 sleep The poor girl was
at her prayers, and had not heard her mother
enter. The little woman stool moment
nreso,uic, then vanished from the room with
a kind u hop; she scarcely liked the pro pect
Of confronting the serious face which she
knew would rise TO greet her from between
those uplifted hands
Il shall 70 70 led. she said, when she re-
gained her own room. and / shall talk TO
Sophia in tie morning.
She sat down, however, and fen into a
muse, an a look Of unwonted gravity ruled
her face and features for "a time. Probably
she was recalling past scenes; for two or three
times she shook her head with 2 kind Of re-
hectiye ssdness until she was rouse1 by the
second chine which had sounded since she
last sat down.
II wonder II sophy n up nowT' she mur-
INJURED. She can't h. at hat 50 long
And changing her mind she again stepped
over, ind. finding the door ajar as she left it,
she entcroi the room once more. The lamp
was stu burning, but Sophia was in bed. and
her silence indicated, sleeping. The mother
walked softly across and looked at her
daughter
Size was fast asleep. The night was warm,
ani she had thrown back the quilt little,
and her arm, her brown hair, and a glimpse
OF her white and innocent breast, together
with the repOse Of hsr expression. ma IL up q
picture which many an artist would have given
a years income to paint She looked the
very IMAGE Of purity and peace, and even
little hrs. Barbara, who was shJt-proof
against most forms OF emotion, felt moisture
stealing into her eyes rs shO gazed. She bent
a little down, and then she saw that the face,
now so calm. had been traversed by recent
tears. Yes, Sophia had been crying since
she lay down, and she hal fallen asleep with
wetted checks.
Something in her hand caught tho mothers
eve, and she looked closer still Her hand was
beside her face and the little article she held
was placed so that Ter sleeping lip; just
touched IT, With great caution and stiffness,
Mrs. Barbara Temple lowered her eyes, and,
stopping and stretching she managed to see
what her DAUGHTER was holding. II was a
miniature OF Percivas Brent
CONTINUED IN OUR NEXT ISSUE.