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

imposing, stout female, of certainly
forty, dressed in a sortsof snowy Sec
ond-mourning.
The lady wears upon her august
acquilipe face look of unconcealed j
satisfaction; Harry is talking with
evident earnestness and volubility.
Eaphemia gives a marked giggle,
whilst her eyes follow mine. look
interrogative.
"Who is Harry's majestic charm
err" I presently ask.
"Mrs. Mackenzie" j" I am promptly
inforr ed Mrs. Horatio Mackenzie
she likes to have people call her, l
believe"
Harry seems to be enjoying him
SELF" state.
Another giggle.
Yes. They've been quite init
mate for several days past"
And now I 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 he
means to marry for money, and (pro-
vided he can be so successfully for
great deal of money as we'll.
"Ob, yes" I Immediately make
haste to fib; 81 have heard this Mrs.
Mackenzie spoken of before row.
She is-ahem rather rich, is she
not, and this last is a somewhat
audacious venture" a widow ?"
"Her husband died about two years
ago, I think" announces Euphemia'
"and everybody agrees in saying that
he left her an income of forty thous-
and dollars year"
Indeed /" I try to look wholly
uninterested. "Do you know hsrP"
"Oh. yes"
Then follows more tiresome talk
about nothing. At last, | make a
daring pause not three feet from where
Harry and Mrs. Mackenzie are stand
ing. Then I take the bull by the
horns, and address a direct appeal
so to speak-toward Eaphemia's COM
mon politeness.
"By-the-by, Miss Tallman, if it
isn't too much trouble, will you have
the kindness, at some time duringt 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 mo'0. I know
her quite well"
Harry just saves himself from the
impertinence of an out-and-out frown
as, few moments later, he sees me
formally presented to has companion.
Mrs. Mackenzie acknowledges the
introduction with great graciousness.
1 strain every nerve to be agreeable,
and completely ignore Qike the wretch
I any 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 I level upon Mrs. Mack
enzie 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 7 discover that
she has one pet foible. She wishes to
be thought glrlisl. and soft-mannered,
and gentle 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 ercept masculine and
impressive. But, notwithstanding this
firm conviction of mine, / behave like
the most hypocritical of caitifs, and
murmur something to the following
mendacious effect:
Whatever can have made you
imagine, Mrs. Mackenzie, that your
style was any thing of that ridiculous
sort? Indeed, where can greater
sweetness and womanliness of manner
be found, if"
"Oh, I fear you are dreadful
compliment-mongrr," she interrupts
with a.laugh, doubtless meant to be
low and musical, but having, in re.
,.lity, 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 O.
treating me with common civility
Harry has set himself to win the wild
ow if such a thing is remotely feasi