Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1886-12-15
q Serial sturp.
BEAUTY'S SECRET.
BY ALAN MUIR.
CHAPTER vi.

the young lover departed than she perceived
how much she had furthered her own ends
by her indulgence to her daughter these last
few days, especially at the parting hour.
Sophia was quite tender with her when they
met, kissed her, fondled her, and was all the
evening so affectionate amid her hardly-re-
pressed grief, that the little plotting woman
began to discover soft place in her own
stony heart She was gentle with Sophia,
and took no direct notice Of the poor girls
tears, which would come once or twice
during the evening, only, as she passed,
stroked her head softly, intending to signify
that she sympathized with her, which she
really did. Tomorrow she would turn over
her new leaf
aSophy,n she said at breakfast, eit Is ten
years this month since we were In Paris. I
have fancy to go over there before the
weather gets too hot Would you like It'll"
Anywhere with you, dear" Sophy replied,
cheerfully. She was determined not to NOPE,
and to begin early.
aThat's pleasant" the mother answered,
with beaming look. 1--WE shall start this
day week"
Dresses had to be ordered, hotels had to be
chosen, hundred preparations had to be
made, and Mrs. Temple saw with exultation
that Sophia entered into all the plans with
great spirit The mother read in this sign
that already Percival was fading out of mind.
II was sure he would, !" the little woman said
to herself. aOf course he must as time goes
on"
They stayed month in Paris, and the
whole Of the time she managed to keep So
phia entertained in the most diverting way.
They had friends there, and the days were
passed in set Of choice little pleasures; and
whatever that inexhaustible purse Of Mrs.
Temples could do to burnish the hours was
done with her own taste and tact.
u shall show Sophia what the world Isl"
the worlds worshiper said to herself; "arid
the Australian boy will soon vanish from her
mind, and love in cottage with him Cot
tage, indeed! not If you can get house; and
not q house II you can get mansion! o,
it wonderful how slow Sophia is to see the
value of life! But she is beginning, and with
her good sense she viii soon be able to teach
instead Of being taught"
And now, to Mrs. Temples unspeakable
qualification, there appeared on the scene a
man who was plainly thinking Of making
Sophia an offer. Had the little woman been
choosing suitor she could not-so she said
afterward-have made more promising selec-
tion. must not say much about him. He
was ten years Sophia's sepior, sedate but not
gloomy in his manner, his fortune was ample,
his birth high, and his appearance was con-
kidered progressing. , He had long been resi-
dent in the neighborhood Of Kettlewell, but
in Paris they were first introduced. He met
the mother and daughter at dinner. Mrs.
Barbara Temple, hearing Of him before, had
already wished inly that he might be struck
with Sophia. She marked him as he walked
into the room, and at sight Of him her wishes
redoubled. During dinner she watched him
narrowly. For a time he did not seem to
have even noticed Sophia, but at last he
looked ut her The little mother saw his gaze
arrested IN pleasurable surprise, and for the
rest of the evening he managed to look at the
young girl as often as possible
The next day the stranger, whose name
was Prendergast, made some excuse for call
ing upon them, and you may be sure he
was graciously received His conversation
pleased Sophia, that was plain; and Mrs.
Temple, watching him, saw in his manner
that which delighted hsr beyond expression.
Next day fresh invitation came from the
II16uU 6U WQOSo uOuSc lucy uao III Sp hi0o Joos
has$y party, the note said.
GAha," little Mrs. Temple said to herself,
"a hasty party! Got up at the instigation OF
Prendergast, dare swear. Sherwood and
he are such friends. If Prendergast does not
take Sophia down to dinner, I am much mis-
taken"
He did And he proved genial COM
panion, with plenty Of talk Of the quietei
sort. BE could interest cultivated women,
being artistic and literary, without being q
pedant or bore-that, at least, was his
friends opinion Of him.
GDon't you think Mr.. Prendergast very
entertaining?" the mother asked as they
drove home.
"very,n Sophia replied, emphaticaIy.
The little woman nearly skipped off her seat
for triumph.
During these early days Mrs. Temple could
never quite make out whether or not Sophia
perceived that this promising Mr.. Prendergast
was, in love with her. In love he clearly was,
but his manner was so unobtrusive, and his
general conversation SO lively, that even
Sophia might not have detected what wa.
plain to the watching eyes Of her mother.
was nice point for Mrs. Temple to settle.
Sophia evidently enjoyed their new frienda
society, and as she was no coquette-not 40
much as she ought to be, her mother used to
say-she must either have forgotten one lover
or not recognized the other. Which was tha
fact Mrs Temple longed to know. Some
times she thought Sophia was in reality pre-
occupied, and only assumed vivacity to
cover aer want Of interest At other times,
and more frequently, Mrs. Temple felt con
vinced that she was truly pleased with Prem
dergast, and would, after decent interval,
confess her satisfaction.
At last an evening came when Prendergast,
calling in upon the Temples, found the
mother and daughter at home, and, after a
title conversation, music happened to be
mentioned, at which Mrs Barbara made the
most casual remark about Sophia having
sung a particular song the night before.
Prendergast asked if he might hear it, and
Sophia, consenting, with istless air sat
down to the piano and sang. Prendergast
praised the song, asked for another and an
other, and Sophia complied in the same list
less way. She sang well, but her eyes had a
kind Of far-of look, very suggestive Of
Australia The little mother, however,
could not see Sophia's face; Prendergast's she
saw, and it told her great deal At last
Sophia began, loft in the Silly Night" and
now (r,o doubt because the theme touched
herr she sang with great expression and ten
derness, and her admirer stood over her,
radiant with love and admiration.
20, that could see herw murmured Mrs
Barbara. She scanned Sophia eagerly when
the song was finished, but her expression said
neither ayes" 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
"Now we shall see," thought the little
woman "Very prettily he managed it, too
observed nothing"
She resolved not to ask Sophia any ques-
ton until next morning; but after she had
retired little while, curiosity got the better
of her, and in her dainty dressing gown she
crossed over to her daughters room, and
tapping gently at the door stepped in.
She saw-not what she expected. Sophia
was not at her glass, nor chatting to her
maid, nor gone to sleep The poor girl was
at her prayers, and had not heard her mother
enter. The little woman stood MON ent
irresolute, then vanished from the room with
a kind of hop; she scarcely liked the prospect
of confronting the serious face which she
knew would rise to greet her from between
those uplifted hands.
II shall 90 to bed, she said, when she re-
gained her own room, land l shall talk to
Sophia in the morning"