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

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pleasure even to see her. Which shows,
reader, what can be done with a beautiful set
Of teeth, and a smile and q jolly laugh dis
creetly inserted in the talk now and then
Mrs. Hands was no favorite with Mrs. Tenn
pie. That prudent woman, mindful Of an
enemy's 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 a 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 solicitude and depression, so much,
that Sophia asked, after a little casual talk,
if anything had disturbed her.
Disturbed me-" the widow exclaimed. 20,
Sophia, my heart is bleeding this ~morning!"
aFor what" Sophia asked. "For anybody
l know"
"For yourself, dear girl Now l will not
keep you in suspense. Is it not true-I know
it is true-that you are still in your heart
keeping up with the clergyman's son, Percival
BrentF'
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.
slave you any news Of himl Is he illT
she asked, and yet illness was not what she
feared.
Sophia, dear girl" the widow said, re-
garding her with eyes that absolutely moist
ened-by what art or emotion l know not,
nor could the widow have told herself
NPercival Brent is a bad young man-un-
worthy of you-unworthy of your love-"
"What do you meanF" Sophia asked, draw
ing herself up with a kind of proud rebuke,
which yet had a threatening Of tears in its
very indignation. "Nothing bad can be true
of him.
"Nothing good, Sophia" the widow re-
piled, shaking her head religiously. at is
sad for me to tell it to you, but it is my duty,
dear-and my privilege, too; for who would
see you sacrificed to such a fellow"
"You must not talk So" Sophia said, in a
less resolute tone.
ain the first place, dear, he has not been
successful in his trade-business, whatever
you call it. He has lost ev%erything-or the
person with whom he was in partnership has
lost everything, or has died, or something UNI
lucky anyhow-Brent is nowhere at all in
money matters"
"That he cannot help" Sophia said, and her
heart revived.
"Perhaps not, dear; but he could help being
idle, being fond of fast company, being fond
of drink-or, at least, of being atplaces where
people do %drink-and all that sort Of thing.
This has been his ruin, for ruined he is"
II 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, What could you exrectY and all that"
ayes; but smoking, dear-drinking-fast
society"
"Well, he always smoked, and he always
drank wine," Sophia answered hotly. Il
suppose once he has taken a little tco 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 ne
and therefore his peccadilloes shall be for
given"
"Sophia, Sophial" the widow exclaimed
"there is more than that. How young you are
to think that such things ever 60 alone! Per-
cival is-well, 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-
"Well, then, my dear, he has been untrue
to you"
married" Sophia gasped, toto Bessie
Warren"
"Never heard that name," replied the
widow" And he is not married, but a great
deal worse. He is well known out there fol
his liking for fast women, and he has made
quite a scandal of himself with IN actress
a married woman, / believe, only her husband
is in England, am told"
'How do you know all thisg' Sophia asked
Her voice was scarcely audible; for she wa
now sure that her lover was false.
Zone of my little birds told me" the widow
replied, with a jauntiness that sickened pool
Sophia. "Forget him, dear. Be a girl O.
spirit. Treat him as he deserves"
"How do you know all this" Sophia re
peated, putting her hand to her forehCad ant
speaking in a tone of genuine anguish. "Iel
mt how you know it|
swell dear, if you must hear everything
and perhaps it is better-look here"
The widow drew from her muff a news
paper, and opening it, pointed to a marked
paragraph. The paper was an Australian
one, and the paragraph, as will be seen, wa
composed with that engaging ease and light
ness of touch which are characteristic Of Ger
tain colonial journals.
CARRIAGE ACCIDENT THE SUBURBs.-
Yesterday evening as Percival Brent wa
driving Mrs. Lanigan to the theatre after
pleasant lunch in the country, the horses raj
away, probably having had too much Moe
g. Chandon-a beverage which, though i
never affects the driver, is sometimes know
to have an exciting effect on the steeds
After a wild career through the streets tn,
vehicle was turned over close by the theatr
and the occupants thrown into the street
after which, lightened of their load, the inc
briated animals proceeded to drag the vehicle
to smash with amazing celebrity. Young Per
cival got a heavy cut ON the left temple, bu
Mrs. Lanigan, marvellous to tell, came of
wholly uninjured. In spite Of his bleeding
brow Percival was on his feet again in a mo
ment and, mindful of the poets advice, h
went to Mrs. Lanigan's side, ito take her u
tenderly, y and "lift her with care" The new
of the accident and its happy Termination
soon spread in the t1seatre, and when Mrs
Lanigan appeared on the stage the house RAM
with plaudits. Nobody thought Of poor Per
cival, his countenance being of value to him