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

the man, and 30, rising WIN sdnirabls CON-
posure, she made Is Il zhs would = the nsxt
word ring the bell ~
'.Nr Brent, she aid severely, and she
aid no more. She boxed STRIKING; her
diminutise well Init ngure Opposite his, which
was N funny posture, suggestive enough Of
tipsy rhetoric, and her stern still face boxing
into his flushed and puffy visage
You cannot deny ~ he went on, true
illustration of the old saying, that whom the
gods wish TO destroy they first make mad
He might even yet have saved himself, IL he
would have fairly noted her aspect; but still
he believed she trembled before himl "Under
that false impression was actually going to
have married you; In fact, might have mar
ried you, and not found out the truth till all
was over"
Mrs Temple had by this time begun to get
an inlling Of the whole truth, and now, like the
general she was, she prepared 10 crush the
enemy. First she stretched out her hand
imperiously, and signing TO small arm
chair.
aSit down there she said
Amazed In his turn, but quailing already,
Mr. Brent obeyed How he got safely seated
is a mystery, for he never looked at the chair,
nor lifted his eyes from her.
"When you first came into this ROOM" she
said, in more imperious tones than before, IL
thought you were drunk The next minute /
thought you were mad 1t took q little
longer to show me that you are neither, but
only impertinent"
The little man gazed up at her open-mouthed,
like dying fish. An the strength Of his fury
was gone.
"How dare you ask me my ager she now
demanded, driving the question into him like
dagger. He, realizing for the first time his
own absurdity, made no answer
@When did tell you was forty-fiver she
asked, changing to a cold, sarcastic tone
"Tell me-"
@well," he stammered; II don't exactly
know; but everybody said that was your age,
and-and I'-he scratched his head with a
pitiable air-T supposed you must have told
them"
"Oh, then it seems it was not I that
said sol"
@Oh, no; it was not you"
He made this admission eagerly, to show
that he was ready to be. civil. She went on,
growing colder as he grew more confused:
"You spoke of marrying me; had you ever
asked mep
"No; had not" he replied, with dismal
expression Of CONSERVATION. "But I'LL
fancied-"
GYou fancied that you are so engaging that
the only question is whether you ask or not.
The lady's reply would be like the vote of
thanks at your missionary meetings-it would
90 by acciamation.n
He hung his head. It was new ex-
perience in life for poor Mr.. Brent to have to
sit silently by while the demonstration that
he was an ass was quietly and logically
worked out.
aNow, Mr.. Brent she said, calmly, alet
me enlighten YOU. You are an amusing
chatterer. and you have a position in this place.
I did not object to know YOU, and to be ON
easy terms with you. But as to marrying
YOU. should not have done it--not even il
Won had knelt at INV feet for a wear. You
are not agreeable to me. don't think YOU
would be agreeable to many women. You
might find some one who would marry you
for your money: tell you candidly don't
think Won will ever meet a woman. be she
twenty-five or forty-ive or seventy-five, who
would marry YOU for yourselfn
aMrs. Temple" the miserable man said,
now thoroughly abashed, II feel have made
a great blunder. Had not better bring this
visit to an end"
aNot unless YOU wish it." she answered.
@We can change the subject, that win be suf-
ficient.n
It was the uuintessepce of contempt. and re-
duced him to the station of a buzzing fly,
which need not be killed II it ceases to make
itself disagreeable. ~
She rang the bell, and until the servant ap-
peared she allowed tie clergyman to enjoy
his situation in silence.
aSend the young ladies here, she said.
Poor little Mr.. Brent hung his head low in
deed, as the girls came back Suppressed fun
and curiosity were in their every feature; but
schooled in self-posstssion by their mother,
they were careful to appear as far as possible
unconcerned.
"Girls," the little 'ady said, looking upon
them with eyes of fire, "Mr. Brent has been
here on curious mission"
He looked up at her, appealing for mercy,
and she returned his look with an expression
which he believed denoted that mercy was
out Of the question.
HE has been interested about an old
woman in this parish of whom he heard much
that was Iavorapie. ne was gong 70 make
her parish annuitant; but, fortunately, be-
fore he committed himself he was told GER
tain facts about her. He learned that she
had misconducted herself at the time of-the
French revolution, was it not, MIR. BrentT'
He could not answer. He looked at her,
petr1fied and dumb.
"Mr. Brent has been very cautious" she
went on; me mas not told me the name Of
this old woman l don't really think, girls,
her history the business Mr.. Brent called
thought would like to ask you if you hay,
very old, and tries to seem very young, VIII,