Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1886-12-15
CHAPTER III.
EGERroN DooLITTLE GIVES HIS VOICE F
SEVERE MEASURES.

EGERrON DoOLITTLE GIVES HIS VOICE FOR
SEVERE MEASURES.
When Mrs Barbara Temple was ushered
into Caroline's drawing room, she caught
sight of the young husband and wife sitting
side by side on sofa. Her coming was evil
IDENTIFY unexpected, and Egerton, calculating
my gracious! dashed out into conserva-
tory adjoining the drawing room, while
Caroline, composing herself, met her mother
with just the smallest signs of momentary con-
fusion. The little woman glanced at two
love birds perched side by side in cage
which hung over the conservatory threshold,
and then she recalled Sibyl, sitting in her
lonely spleIdor.
"For some things" our little Pilpay re-
marked privately, "for some things young
fool is better than an old sage But these are
only the etceteras Of life; Sibyl has secured
the grand thing, after all, and more of it
than Car. Life is pretty equal"
"Carolne, my dear girl" she said after a
few casual words, II have come this morning
to consult you on matter of the greatest inn
rortancc ] know your good sense, and the
energy with which you can act when you
have decided what is right to be done. If it
was not for you, Caroline and your tact and
Judgment should be in despair"
With this insinuating preface she told the
story Of Prendergast's proposal; and after
expanding in The most glowing style in praises
of his person, character and estate, she turned
to the dismal topic of Sophia's infatuation for
that penness Australian boy.
For this whim, this caprice, this idea,
which is not worthy to be called an idea, she
will actually sacrifice man who is not only
man of family and fortune, but whose char
acter is of the very pattern she most processes
to admire Iprotest, Caroline, it will drive
me wild"
ut certainly is unfortunate" Car said.
"And unless YOU cooperate with me, work
with me-. and work hard and wisely, too,
Sophia will lcse the best chance in life she
ever can have. l can do nothing without
your assistance, dear"
Il shall do all in my power, mamma" Car
oline replied; but you must tell me what
you wish"
at was on my tongue, dear girl. You
must have q conversation with Sophia-let it
seem accidental-and say you have heard
about Prendergast Praise him a little; but
that is not your particular point. Set before
Sophy my delight at the idea Of the mar
riage; the happiness it will give me; how
miserable shall be if it goes off. Sophia is
all affectionate girl, and believe would do
very great deal simply to show her love
to me. Now, you must put before her
strongly my feelings and hopes; for, indeed,
dear, if Prendergast does not marry her I
shall die of vexation Now 60 over and over
this matter with Sophia. You know, Car,
she is not like you-cear-headed, Of sound
Judgment, seeing what is right at glance,
and firm to carry out her ideas. She is soft,
yielding, tender-Eearted. If I were you !
should coax her little, kiss her, be tender
With her; all that will tell with Sophia Now
/ know, my love, have given you Il diff
ficult task to perform, and nothing but
my knowledge of your tact would have
encouraged me to ask you to undertake
it. But you will do it, and do it we'll.
Sophia will marry Prendergrast, and the
praise Of the affair will be yours"
The little mother had not said one sylla-
BILE about Cars cleverness which was
unmerited but however astute that
Young lady might be, she was like an
osier wand in the skilled hands of her
mother. With wonderful enthusiasm
Car took up the scheme, and not less
wonderful was the simple obedience with
which she resolved to follow out the di-
rections that were given her. Independ-
ent and inventive as she was in herself,
she vet learned her mothers words by
heart as faithfully as if she had been get
ting up scene in play. She did not
insert word of her own and the more
she showed her readiness to follow her
mothers intructions implicitly, the more
did that unrivaled student of human ma
ture laud her quickness, her resources,
her capacity for maneuver and benevC-
lent stratagem.