The free citizen. (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1875-04-17
A Clerical Episode.

"Its very disagreeable duty"
thought the Rev. Mr.. Thornton. as he
entered Mrs. Mason's parlo-, "but as
I've been thoughtless enough to make
the promise, there's no way of avoiding
It, Mr. Thornton was n young and
rather handsome gentleman, whose
thorough earnestness and sincerity,
joined to fair share of mental ability
and very large amount of kind-heart,
edne 8, had made him extremely popu.
lar with the people of the country town
III which he was located, and with 10
one nore go than with the lady whose
house he had just entered. She con-
sidered him almost perfect, end would
have been deeply insu1ted if she had
heard anyone rashly calling in question
the sonndness of his judgment on any
( subject. On the present occasion he
had come to fulfill promise to her
!, that:he would call and have an inter-
sSiew with her5 niece, Miss Hattie. Hal
lowell, who was spending few weeks
at her house.
Miss Haliowell was one of the reign
ing bt lies OF a neighboring city, and
her manner toward gentlemen, though
not actually uhlady-like, was far too
tres and unconstraiued to suit her
aunt.s old-fashioned and rather narrow
minded ideas of propriety, and the lat
ter had begged her minister toFtiye the
young lady some wholesome ADVICE on
the subject. After promising to COM
ply, Mr.. Thornton had become more
and more conscious that he had placed
himself in very awkward position, and
that the only result likely to ensue
from this undertaking to advise Miss
Hallowell was great deal of displeas-
ure on her part. And though unwilling
to give way to what he feared might be
mere want of moral courage, he was
good deal embarrassed when the time
came for the duty to be performed.
His embarrassment was by mo means
lessened when Miss Hallowell came
into the room, looking really lovely in
her handsome, dark blue morning-dress.
which enhanced, by contrast, the
brightness OF her blonde complexion
and beantifut light hair. the truth
was, she had made up her mind some
days before that tho minister was " the
only civilized man in the whole stupid
little town, aud had taken some pains
that morning to appear at, her best be-
fore him. 5
She greeted him very cordially, and,
as he noticed how frank and pleasant
her manner really was, he.was troubled
by o still greater uneasiness about lee
turing her on that point. But after
some preliminary onversation-duripp
which che noticed that he was yery
nervous and ill at ease--he made de.
termined effort to get through with his
disaa1eeable task.
"Miss Hallowell,". he said, az am nm
sure you know what high. regard I
feel Tor you, and how very much inter
ested l have BECOME in you since YOU
have been here. y
I'm very glad, indeed, that you like
me so much, Mr.. Thornton. ;" she nm.
swered, with d charming smile.
He found it impossible to saw any.
thing more at first, and there was nm
awkward pause. Then, under. a sense
that something mnst be said, and NOT
knowing exactly what it Was to be. he
%ens1 on in n strain that was rather
stronger tilan the facts of the ease
warranted. ::'sss.ss7 '"'o
81 feel az ii I were more than .
friend to you," he Raid. .Indeed T T
haven't seen anybody for a long t;Ima
VINO excited e my interest as you have
Here there was another pause, during
wnlcn ne became, more embarrassed
than ever, while his companion BEGAN
20 entertain certain idea about his
meaning. uo nis'
81 want to ask, You something. y lie
said finally, in q hesitating way, "Im
afraid you'll think it very strange II, me
TO say such g thing to You when I'VE
only sknowni yonl a. few weeks : bnt I
! tnlnk III y0n Will mean, I hope"
asre ne came TO q dead stop and was
8 entirely alta loss how to 20 on. =
but before he conld put an end to his
hesitatton the lady heraelf sudSenly
Drought matters to "a climax il, q way
affair. - '''e
s' HMr. Thornton. she saia with q