Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1886-05-13
CHAPTER n
FACE 10 FACE

Brent thought st first that this alone would
make an end Of the thing; Ms. Barbara
Temple would not give her consent, 90 rea-
soned this parson, who knew the world 90
well He kept silence on The point, however,
and soon his sons srdor, carrying everything
before IL, made his small doubtz and scruples
Of no effect at all
"This picture Is good-very good the
father said, gazing at IL. @but Imust ten you
that 1t does not do the girl justice Where IL
fails cannot say; indeed, can scarcely say
what it is that makes Sophia Temple so hand
some"
OF course tho son listened 10 all this with
greedy ears; and the conversation turned into
a discussion Of the prospects of the affair
which for the present the father would not
aJmit to be hopeful, still remembering his
tiwn late repulse. When, however, young
Brent ascertained that his father was on
visiting terms with the family he would hear
no more of doubt or difficulty. With such
an opening the fault must be his II he did not
make the girl his own.
3You are sure she is not engagedF" he
asked.
"Oh, yes, quite sure" the rector answered.
None Of the girls are engaged; indeed, the
only one Of the family who has been talked
about in that respect is the
Mr.. Brent stopped, and turned as red as a
turkey cock He never did guard his lips
well, and this disclosure came out before he
remembered how awkward the subject might
be. So he repeated the sentence stammer-
ingly,
about In that respect was
"You don't mean her mother" cried the
young fellow. He was quite interested in his
beauty's mother, and was ready to be inter.
ested in her grandmother If necessary.
"Yes, the mother was talked about. the
rector said, still red with self-consciousness:
but there was nothing in it, Percy-nothing.
"ls the mother handsomep asked our lover,
vivaciously. .
Decidedly handsome" the father replied.
"About what agep
"Her age, Percy" the rector replied, gloom
lily, "has not been ascertained.'
Young Brent was man Of scientific tastes.
and it was to his credit that, born as he was
to great expectations, he steadfastly pursued
his studies, in which he was now no con-
teinptible authority. Geology was his
favorite, and he resolved to devote his
energies 10 that science, for he was
old-fashioned enough TO believe that birth
to good fortune imposes obligations on
the inheritor Young Brent resolved 10
make his mark in the world Like all young
enthusiasts, he must be for ever talking over
his subjects, and he would try TO interest lis
father in geology; but Brent senior had no
patience with the Unsuitable demands of that
science for time. ain the name Of goodness
he would say, dis not six thousand years
enough for you9 just think what could be
done in six thousand yearsl Up to that time
you can do as you please, but do object to
your upsetting everything on the plea of
wanting time to account for dead fish be-
ing found in one Of your strata Is it any
great matter how it came there, or when! To
be upsetting Bishop Usher simply because
somebody has found few bones in rock
where he did not expect it, seems to me the
most monstrous thing ever heard OFF,
For all that, when the easy-humored rec
tor heard his son praised in company for his
scientific attainments he was not Ill pleased;
and contrasting his earnest and energetic
youth with the idleness and frivolity of other
young fellows in the town, he was willing to
excuse the mild skeptcism which contented
itself with requiring a little chronological
elasticity from Bishop Usher. Indeed, the
rector might fairly be proud Of his son; in
tehectual ardor is seldom exclusive, and the
young mans love Of science gave him sym
pathy with muck beside which was not di-
rectly scientific. He took an interest in
politics, but with Radical symptoms, which
his father pounced upon with vigilance and
great heat, ending the dispute generally with
laugh, and the hope that things would last his
Time. Desioes tnis young Drens was good
musician ana noc wiInouG hterary tastes, ror
ne aaDDied In poetry. Duc partiy tnrougn
s1udlous snyhess' ana more rom certain
pnysical awKwaroness' ne was not aitogetner
Drawing room man ne mad 700 great
respect Ior women 10 Dc aitogetner . 1avorite
with them; Tor these exalted beings, knowing
lneir ceiesuai quahtles' cannos see why tney
snouid De approacnea wltn ao"ncast eyes
VI auuresseo WIN lsleelins ups 90 young
Drent was noc iaoy Mah, nor company
man, altnousn tnere were s1or1es OF ~ least
two pretty girls having been in love with
him; and as to company, whenever the talk
grew serious, Brent, as by natural right,
began to speak freely, and spoke often with
great success.
It was impossible to Withstand the lovers
entreaties, and so little Mr.. Brent, divided
between uneasiness and satisfaction, fearing
a repulse, and yet not without hope Of now
wholly regaining his footing in the widows
lively house, introduced his son to the
ladies. All four were in the drawing room
when the gentlemen were announced, and
young Brent was sufficiently master Of
himself not to betray any preference for
one daughter before another Indeed, he
rather avoided Sophia, talked more and more
freely with Caroline and Sibyl; and so few
and shy were the glances he cast at her he
worshiped, that four pair Of female eyes did
not, in quarter Of an hour, detect him as
lover. Caroline rather liked his converse