The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1886-05-19

L
well He kept silence On the point, however.
and soon his sons ardor. carrying everything
| before il, made his small doubts and scr-lples
Of no effect at all
This picture is good--very good the
father said. gazing at II, @but must tell you
that it does not do the girl justice. Where it
tails / cannot say; indeed, l can scarcely say
| what it IS that makes Sophia Temple so hand
some
OF course the 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
admit TO be hopeful, stin remembering hss
own late Fepulse. When. however, young
Brent ascertained that his father was on
visiting terms with the family he would hear
no more of doubt OF difficulty With such
an opening the fault must be his if he did not
make the girl his own.
You are sure she is not engagedg' he
asked.
/ -eE0ne Of the girls are engaged; indeed the
ealy one OF the family who has been talked
bout in that respect IS the"
Mr.. Brent stopped, and turned as red as q
turkey cock He never did guard his lips
Tell, and this disclosure came out before he
remembered how awkward the subject might
be So he repeated the sentence stammer-
ingly
-The only one of the family that was talked
sbout in that respect was
You don't moan her mother cried t1.,
yocng fellow. He was quite Interested in his
beautys mother, and was ready to be inter
ssted in her grandmother if necessary.
Yes, the mother was talked about the
rector said, still red with self-consciousness:
. out there was nothing in it, Percy-nothing
is the mother handsomeE" asked our lover.
qivaciously.
Decidedly handsome, the father replied
about what agei"
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
10 great expectations, he steadfastly pursued
his studies, in which he was now no con
temptible authority Geology was his
favorite, and he resolved to devote his
energies 10 that science, for he was
old-fashioned enough 70 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 be must be for ever talking over
his subjects and be would try TO interest his
father in geology; but Brent senior had no
patience with the Unsuitable demands of that
science for time. an the name of goodness.
he would say, sis not six thousand years
enough for you2 Just think what could be
done in six thousand years! Up TO that time
you can do rs You pleasH, hut ! do object to
your upsetting everything on the plea Of
wanting time to account for a dead fish be-
ing found in one of 81 Ir strata. Is it any
great matter how it cal le there, or when} To
be upsetting Bishop Usher simply because
somebody has found few bones in a rock
where he did not expect it, seems to me the
most monstrous thing I ever heard Of
For all that, when the easy-humored rec
tor heard his son praised in company for his
scientific attainments he was not i'll 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 skepticism which contented
itself with requiring a little chronological
elasticity from Bishop Usher Indeed, the
rector might fairly be proud of his son; in
tellectual ardor is seldom exclusive, and the
young mans love of science gave him SYM
pathy with much 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 Besides this young Brent was a good
musician, and not without literary tastes, for
he dabbled IN poetry. But partly through
studious shynesS, and more from a certain
physical awllwardness, he was not altogether
a drawing room man. He had too great
respect for women to be altogether favorte
with them; for these exalted beings, knowing
their celestial qualities, cannot see why they
should be approached with downcast eye
or addressed with faltering lips So young
Brent was not lady's man. nor a company
man, although there were stories of at 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, ana spoke often with
great success.
1t was impossible 70 Withstand the lovers
/ entrsaties, and 50 little bIr Brent, dividei
between uneasiness and satisfaction fearing
a repulse, and yet not without hops OF now
wholly regaining his footing in the Widows
Lively house, introduced his son to the
ladies. All four we're in the drawing room
when the gentlemen were announced, and
! young Brent was sufficiently master Of
himself not to betray any preference TO-
I one daughter before another Indeed, ne
rather avoided Sophia, talked more and moe
freely with Caroline and Sibyl; and 30 few
and shy were the glances he cast Il: her he
woIshiped, that four pair Of female eyes d,d
/ not, in a quarter Of an hour. detect him
I lover. Caroline rather liked his converse
/ ton, which was a trifie booliisl; bat Si5yl
/ pronOuncei him awkward and bashful.
+ Sophia said nothing, from which one might
( have fancied that she thought the more; but
/ it is certain that, as yet, she had not recog-
4 nized a lover.
Young Brent left the house enchanted. He
was ready to say. like the dazzled queen of
/ the East, that the half had not been told him.
(
! that morning. and as her face was in most
/ particular sense a face of expression, no por
trait could do her justice. The young lover
/ flew off in an ecstasy Of praise. Was ever a
/ true picture of womanhood seen befoTe7 Was
not Sophia the living presentation of that
! image Of sense and sensibility which hovers
around every mans fancy, as the likeness Of
the true woman, but which seldom takes form
and feature-once Or twice in a generation
perhaps! ! pardon the lads raptures. And
in her face that afternoon there was delight
full harmony of expression, sweetness and
seriousness. animation with suspicion of
| humor and sort of tender sadness predomi-
mating over all the rest. Is not the highest
beauty always touched with sadnessl
The worthy mother, who never lost a
chance of instructing her daughters, and
/ eliciting their opinions for correction, asked
them what they thought of their new ac-
quaintance.
@Dun,7 replied sibyl. finishing him of
with one word, imperially delivered.
What do you say, Gardiner
~0h. not dull, certainly answers Miss
Boohzworm: Eve talked about astronomy
Don't mistake the drawing room for the
library, Car = remarked her mother briskly.
Learned talk is very affected Be as well
educated as you please, but don't seem 80.
Now, Sophia, what did you think Of young
Mr.. Brentzn
II had hardly formed an opinion, mamma
you should have done so, Sophia
Never he listless. And now, girls, shall
tell YOU my opinionF
'sDo, n1aminar' the three exclaimed. For
mamma was always racy and pungent and
instructive. especially in her professorial
| moods.
He is little sheepish, and he wants no,
only confidence, but manner as well a few
remarks from some observing lady friend
such as
Yourself mammal Car cried
We'll, dear, let nc say myself, then. II
would do him world of good He is a dil
igent young fellow. and would soon improve
If he could be got to give his mind to IL
Those quiet, retiring young men have often 3
great deal In them, and remember, girls. that
if they do not shine at the times or in the
ways in which ordinary men Of the world
do. still they are sometimes brilliant and
effective where men of mere manner and
accomplishments quite fail Don't be preju
diced, even by sheepishness, Sibyl: al
is not honeliiaess that seems 50. And Caro-
line, my love, do give up that bad habit 0.
/ trying to talk what you call sense; you have
plenty OF attractions without that. And
Sophia, when shall / teach YOU not 70 be x
iist.ess; appear 50 Il you please, for | admit
il gives you charming look at times; but