Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1873-08-28

acquiline face look of unconcealed
satisfaction; Harry is talking with
evident earnestness and volubility.
Euphemia gives a marked giggle,
whilst her eyes follow mine. look
interrogative.
"Who is Harry's majestic charm
er?' I presently ask.
"Mrs. Mackenzie" I am promptly
inforr- ed; Z" Mrs. Horatio Mackenzie
she likes to have people call her, |
believe.
Harry seems to be enjoying him
self" I state.
Another giggle.
Yes. They've been quite init
mate for several days past.
And now suddenly recollect that
I have not known Mr.. Harry Tallman
for the past ten years or 80 without
also knowing some of his pet theories
too. Among these there is one of a
very pronounced character. If ever
Mr.. Tallman marriss, he has more
than once confded to me that ne
means to marry for money, and (pro-
vided he can be so successfully for a
great deal of money az we'll.
"oh, yes, Immediately make
haste to fb; II have heard this Mrs.
Mackenzie spoken of before now.
she is-ahem rather rich, is she
not, and"-this last is somewhat
audacious venture" q widow ?"
"Her husband died about two years
ago, I think" announces Euphemia'
land everybody agrees in saying that
he left her an income of forty thous-
and dollars a year.
Indeed !" I try to look wholly
unintsrested. "Do you know herF'
"Oh. yes t.
Then follows more tiresome talk
about nothing. At last, l make a
daring pause not three feet from where
Harry and Mrs. Mackenzie are stand
ing. Then take the bull by the
horns, and address direct appeal
so to speak-toward Euphemia's COM
mon politeness.
"By-the.by, Miss Tallman, if it
isn't too much trouble, will you have
the kindness, at some time during the
day, to-to present me to this Mrs.
Mackenzie? I like her looks ex-
tremely."
"Amiable Euphemial"
"Why, certainly, Mr.. Johnson" is
the prompt answer; II shall be most
happy to present you moaO. l know
her quite well"
Harry just saves himself from the
impertinence of an out-and frown
as a few moments later, he sees me
formally presented to his companion.
Mrs. Mackenzie acknowledges the
introduction with great graciousness.
1 strain every nerve to be agreeable,
and completely ignore (like the wretch
I amy the benevolent Euphemia, who
still stands at my side.
Harry is evidently nonplussed at
my cool assurance. Presently he finds
the concealment of his chagrin alto.
gether too hard a task, and, offering
his arm to the complacent, sheep-like
Euphemia, moves away with her.
A good hour passes after that, du-
ring which level upon Mrs. Mack
enzic the fullest broadsides of affa-
bility. 1t seems to me that the more
l exert myself the more gracious she
becomes. I have not talked with her
ten minutes before ! discover that
she has one pet foible. She wishes to
be thought glrlish. and sott-mannered,
and gentl. she shudders at the idea
of being called masculine or impress
s;ve.
Of course l cannot help marveling
at her willingness to believe that she
could ever, under any circumstances,
appear anything except masculine and
impressive. But, Notwithstanding this
firm conviction of mine, | behave like
the most hypocritical OF caltltfs, and
murmur something to the following
mendacious effect:
Whatever can have made you
imagine, Mrs. Mackenzie, that your
style was anything of that ridiculous
sort? Indeed, where can greater
sweetness and womanliness of manner
be found, if
"Oh, I fear you are a dreadful
compliment-mong-r, she interrupts,
with a.laugh, doubtless meant to be
low and musical. but having, in re-
ality, hard, Amazonian e6ect-like
everything about the woman.
The next time I see Harry Tall
man, 1 cannot fail to observe his evi-
dent self-struggle in the matter Oh
treating me with common civility.
Harry has set himself to win the wild.
ow, if such thing is remotely FEAST
BILE. My sudden successful interfer.
ence is, no doubt, giving him sensa-
tions toward me that. are little else
than cannibalistis. Never mind