The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1886-12-16

that there was none. At this she broke into
little laugh, which meant, 'Kcttlewell peo-
pie must be fools. ""What rooms for dancing"
she calculated. "What staircascs, up and
down." And then she set her own dapper
figure in one of the glasses of the console
tables, and mur1nured, Admirable, ad-
mirablc taster ''I shall takc this house,"
she said aloud, as she set her foot on the
threshold. And as she wSnt from room to
room she kept repeating, II shall take this
house Bedroom" dressing room, morn
ing room." library" "boudoir," servants
hall" With such words of assignment on her
lips she went about, and the whole mansion
was allotted to separate uses when she had
completed her inspecting tour. She came
back into the empty dining room, and the
young man who, full of awe, had followed her
round the house, heard her say to herself, ~,
what room for dancer Then he, going
out on some erranG, and suddenly returning.
saw the little dame step down the empty floor
in some formal dance, most mystic in his eyes.
and bowling with aristocratic grace to some
invisible partner. The young man recalled
his own hops ut the citizens ball, and Won
dered what this grave measure could be. But
the little lady pulled up all Of a sudden, with
O. whistle of her silks, and repeated for tho
fftieth time, II shall take this house."
aMrs. Barbara Temple" was her reply
when the agent asked her name. She de-
livered it with decided emphasis, as II the
syllables might be pondered; and forthwith
she gave orders for many things to be done to
the house and grounds, saying that she would
come in next month. You may be sure we
were all alive with curiosity to know every
thing about Mrs Barbara Temple. She
turned out to be q widows widow for tho
second time, we heard-and with three
daughters. She had first married nm old man
of vast wealth, who died when she was two
and-twenty, leaving her with no children and
a great fortune settled on her. Next, to
avenge herself for the privations oe her first
marriage, she allied herself to young ensign
of twenty-five, handsome and penniless-
With him she lived happily for seven years,
during which time she gave birth to three
daughters. Then the young officer died; and
so, having got fortune by the first husband
and a family by the second, Mrs. Barbara
Temple was now making ready to lead the
remainder of her life according to her own
keart.
The family came into residence on the Inst
Friday in April, 1883. Nothing was seen OF
them, you may guess, on Saturday, and
everybody was on tiptoe expectation for
their entry into the parish church on Sunday
morning. Thither they came, regularly
enough, like good worslipers, having, by the
way, spoiled the worship Of everybody be-
side. First comes my little dame, natty and
brisk, and with something in her movements
that almost made you fancy she must be a
puppct animated by enchantment. Silks,
feathers OF tho rarest sort, a faI-the weather
being hot-and her frame braced up into
such erectness, that each Of her inches was
worth two; so Mrs. Barbara Temple walked
into church. There was spirit in the eye
which went round the building, not with un-
pleasing holiness, but with most unmiStaka-
BILE courage. There was vigor in her step
which told of a good constitution, and she
held her fan in q way that signited temper.
Indeed, when the pew-opencr blundered over
the latch of the door, and kept her waiting in
the aisle, she dealt one glance at the woman
one only-but what arebuke was in it. At
sight of the fash, old Sparkins. the doctor,
wh3 had been watching the newcomer
rather obtrusively, was struck with fear that
he might catch the next; and he dropped into
his prayer book like bird shot i'll mid air,
trying to look as if he had Scen nothing since
service began.
Three daughters camo behind. The first
impression they gave US was of profusion
of rich dress chosen and worn with taste
which was simply faultless. The next inl-
preston was Of tallness Of figure, the more
conspicuous for the tiny dame who led the
way. The third impression was Of beauty,
set out in style and fashion such rs our little
town could not rival; and we did not think
ourselves provincial in any but the geograph-
ical sense. After this, we had time to
Judge and praise the beauties girl by girl.
Girl the first walked with mincing step,
and toss of her head which, though strictly
within the limits of good breeding, was
noticeable and significant. Clever she looked,
too, and her eyes were clear gray, eyes that
could search you-and did search you-read-
ing your face with great rapidity and appre
hension. She was the most striking figure Of
the three being very tall, and with splendid
shoulders. Hcr face, it is true, would not
bear much looking into; and had you taken it
feature by feature, as the children were
taught to break the fngot in the fable, you
might nave proved it poor face enough.
But taken in its wholeness, and set upon that
superb bust, it was face which l should not
have recommended a young fellow to gaze at
too long unless he meant matrinony. And
then her dress-her dress! O, never tell mo
that O woman cannot double-treble-he
looks if she has money in her pocket and taste
in her eye!
But the next was prettier; indeed, pretty
was not the word appropriate to woman
who was unquestionably handsome, who knew
her beauty and was proud of it. The second
Miss Temple had nose of most exquisite
shape, large melting eyes of gray, ready to
turn blue, and she had lovely mouth, per-
haps with little too much of the chisel about
it, too finely finished, wanting i'll expression,
and with slight hint Of disduin carved on its
g., ,,o,-,.rc pu,utv prof.Ssnl hnnutv con-