Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1886-06-04

Mr. HRENDEhuHoIs
He spoke quietly; and Mrs. Temple, glanc-
ing at her daughter, saw her bend over her
little morsel of lacework with a crimson
cheek.
'She knows now, at all events" the mother
said t~riumphantly.
And when Prendergast took his leave, Mrs.
Temple resolved fairly to open her mind to
Sophia.
Il have never, Sophy," she began, never
in my life seen a man who more takes my
fancy" The door was hardly shut upon him.
"At first l thought him rather dull and,
we~ll-sanctifed.n Here u little vivacious
sinner made the smallest and genteelest face
of scorn. "But that soon wears off; and l
declare that, in spite of my first impression,
l find him the most truly lively, entertaining,
accomplished man l have ever met. What
do you think, SophyT
"He is very agreeable" Sophia said Sc
riously.
"Polite without affectation, witty without
coarseness, serious without cant, Mrs. Tenn
pie went on, in true Eighteenth century high
style. "He is a specimen Of moderation in
all things; and moderation, Sophia, next to
repose of manner, is the great mark Of a gen.
tleman. A gentleman should be a little Of
everything, and not too much OF anything.
Have you ever met so accomplished a manP
ayes" Sophia replied, dexterously affecting
not to hear the last part of her mothers
speech, "he is all you say. l like him greatly"
II am going to ask him to dinner" Mrs.
Temple said.
"What, mammaF' exclaimed Sophia. "Com-
pany so soon! Wait aLittle."
"Not company, child, the mother answered.
aAl alone. He will like it better than a
party"
"And spoil one of our little snug evenings"
Sophia murmured. "Don't, mamma"
"Now what is there in our evenings you so
enjoy, Sophia"
"Oh," that dear hypocrite answered, II en-
Joy the ~quiet-and-and our music-and-
and your talk, mamma, and all your funny,
lively stories. You are the best company in
the world"
She put her hands caressingly round her
mothers neck, and the mother, who always
showed herself pleased with every mark of
affection from her daughters, drew one round
white arm along her lips, giving it a success
sion of tiny kisses.
"Poor Prendergast will find it terribly dull
at the hotel, Sophy. Really, it would be quite
barbarous to leave him there alone"
"Well, if you must have him, mamma,
have some people to meet him.
II don't think he would care for that"
"If he wants society, it is just what he
would care for mamma"
'But he does not want society" the mother
replied; ''only a little friendly chat and
music. Yes she added, resolved to carry
her point at once, 81 shall sit down and
write a note to him this moment"
The note was sent that evening, but no an
swer came, Mrs. Temple began to think she
must be altogether out in her surmises. But
at twelve o'clock next morning, when Sophia
was walking in the town, the name OF Mr..
Prendergast was announced, and he stepped
into the room with an apology for the early
call on his lips, and yet with an air which
plainly said; "My business is my excuse.
Mrs. Barbara Temple assured her visitor that
his call was not inopportune.
"In fact" she said, with one Of her engag-
ing laughs, II am famished for a little scan
dial. Scandal, if you pleAgel"
"My call" PrendergaA remarked quietly,
lis not of hat character. The fact is" he
continued, opening his business at once, II
have been greatly struck by your daughter:
l wish to use no lattering language, but L
assure you that never, never have l seen any
young lady who seemed to possess half her
attractions. She is a lovely girl"
He stopped, and a slight moisture in his
eyes signified that he was speaking from his
heart Mrs. Temple made a graceful inclina-
ton of her head.
at is always agreeable to a mother to hear
her daughter praised, " she said. "You have
not overrated Sophia, as !, who have watched
her from her cradle, can tell you"
II anne to see you this morning partly on
your account" Prendergast continued. II
know the responsibilities and a~nxieties of a
mother, left in sole charge Of so attractive a
girl. l do not wish to add to them, and the
least intimation of disapproval of my suit on
your part win be sufficient to make mt
abandon it at once, and finally"
Possibly this grave gentleman, having eyes
in his head, may have known that the little
mother was dying to call him son-in-law;
and this noble speech may have had a trace
Of humbug in it. But Mrs. Barbara rever-
enced this sort of humbug. 1t was more
spicy than reality. She would not have
liked Prendergast for really meaning all this
civil consideration; but for pretending to
mean it, and for uttering the pretense with
an air SO perfectly pharisaic, she could have
kissed him there and then. So, Pharisee
feminine against Pharisee masculine, she
looked at him with a small and pensive sigh.
Elbow few men show such consideration"
II came also" said he, ION my own ac-
count. II Miss Temple is engaged, or if she
is not likely to look with favor upon me, I
had rather know it At least you might per-
haps give me your-your-odviee."