The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1886-12-16
CHAPTER V.
VANITY CAN vANQU1sH LOVE.

The following morning Mr.. Brent received
q letter from his son In Australia, announc-
Ing his intention of returning to England for
few months The reason Of this return the
letter went on to furnish. The son said he
feared his father would think him very
foolish but love was bringing him home, and
here was the worst Of the matter-love under
very peculiar circumstances. He had fallen
in love with-a picture! He had seen the
portrait of girl whose face had impressed
him as never the living face Of any woman
had, and having ascertained that the original
of the picture really lived, and was English,
and not duchess or a princess, which well
she might be, but girl of lis own rank in
life, young Brent was determined to find her
out and try to secure her for himself. The
letter wound up in very ingenious language,
admitting the apparent absurdity OF the
whole proceeding; but protesting that the pas
sion was true and deep, and that nothing
could end it except realization or absolute
and ascertaincd hopelessness
Rector Brent was good natured man and
kind father; so he shook his head and
smiled over his sons folly, being sage him
self. But he wrote u kind reply, saying
that his son would be always welcome homo
under any conceivable circumstances, and
that though he must confess the expedition
seemed rather wild, yet he well knew that in
the latter scenes of the affair his son would
be ruled by his own good sense and his
fathers counsel
"And now," tho rector said, as he sealed
this praiseworthy epistle, ~ think before Per-
cival comes home had better have my az
fairs settled" This he said, and as he spoke
he looked at his own likeness in the chimney
glass. Something struck him. "Dear me"
he exclaimed, II must get some new teeth!"
For fifty years Of good living had told upon
this portion Of his mechanism; cnd,now re-
fecting that he was about to marry, no
reasoned thus: "At such times we refurnlsh
our houses Think of q man refurnishing his
house, and not refurnishing his mouth! If
am to have a new dining table, ought to
have new set of teeth to use at it. Besides"
He grinned in tho glass. ayes" he said,
shaking his head, mot at all prepossessing. "
He grinned again, and this time by the power
of fancy set now white teeth in the vacant
spaces "Not doubt Of it," he murmured; ;
the greatest improvement"
So that morning, instead of making pro-
posal of marriage to the lively widow, he
went to an adjacent town, where notable
dentist practiced, and here he had his jaws
overhauled and plan of the projected I'M
provements drawn out. The dentist was
man of chat and when he ascertained whence
the parson came he had all sorts Of questions
to ask about various people in the neighbor-
hood, and curious stories to tell, and gossip 10
exchange; so that our little rector, perched IN
the operating chair, laughed and chlrruped
and looked the image Of enjoyment. Short
sighted mani
"By the way" said the dentist, pausing q
moment with one Of his tools in bis hand,
"has not Mrs. Temple settled n kettlewel
during the pnst year"
Rector Brent know thnt faint blush shot
out of his cheek az he answered ayes"
"a remarkable woman" the dentist con-
tinued, forgetting his task, while with med
itatiye face he seemed to contemplate bygone
days. "a very remarkable woman"
"a very, rery remarkable woman" the
rector replied, determined to add an adyerb
in this very peculiar case
"Wonderfu energy" said tho dentist.
Most wonderfully the rector rcjoined, still
on the augmentation principle.
"And such face and figure" the operator
said again.
"Ah such face and figure" repeated the
rector, unable to refrain from rubbing his
hands together.
"For her years." the dentist remarked, III
all explanatory voice.
80. come, Gomez cried the rector, III tones
of rclnonstrance II don't sec that. She Is
Youthful, certainly, and sprightly; but still
women are not old Mt forty-live."
"At vhnt five!" asked the dentist, not hay
ing caught the first word
"Forty-fve," repeated the rector, boldly
and emphatically
"Sevcnty-tive, more likely" the blunt den
fist sad now intent on his tool, winch was
out of repair
80, see. see!" cried Rector Brent; you
nrc talking of her mother. We don't know
tho mother The mother does not live WITH
them now
"Unlcss Mrs Barbara Temple is herself
and her mother Mt TN. same time ! am not
talking of her mother the dentist an
swcrcl. THAT lady is seventy years OF age
if she is seven"
SAYING this with great unconcerl, ne hu-
vancrd to take some further measurement OF
the ccrgvn,ans mouth, and observing Ills
face of horror. BE- said, rcasSllringy:
"Dcn't be- uneasy: am not going to take
anything out.
The rector. gaspinG, waved him away. 80
cOnvulSivr were his movements that lor
moment the dentist feared that hr IriGht nave
left one of his minor implements i'll the
PATIENTS mouth, which implement, having
been Inadvertently swallowed. was. from
It's llnaccnlnmudating material and unusual
shape. doing violence to nature III one or
other of ;h.. canals which traverse the human
continent.
do vou mean to say" said the astounded
clergyman ut last that Mrs. Barbara Iem-
ple-thc lady who has three fine daughters
is more than forty-fivc!"
Before one of those young ladies was