Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1886-11-24
BOOK TWO.
LADY BEA UTYS SISTERS.
CHAPTER I.

THE PICTURE.
In the course of q narrative by which
my old friend put me in position to re-
late this story, I more than once ventured
to remark that he had a surprising &C.
uuaintance with a number Of facts and
conversations which might be supposed
to be beyond the earshot of an ordinary
friend. He smiled in very peculiar way,
and 1 saw faint streak of red coming out
upon his cheek. Then, with sigh, he
answered that 1 might be satisfied that
his story was q truthful one. How he
came to know it so fully need notinquire.
The sadness with which this was said set
me thinking; but for that time under
stood no more.
Little Mr.. Brent returned home that day
heartily and thoroughly ashamed of HIM
self. His bitterest enemy could not have
wished him more humbling fall. Being
great man for letter-Writing, and firmly
impressed with the fatal belief that the
large number of human complications can
be adjusted by correspondence, he sat
down after his dinner to write an explain
alton and apology to Mrs. Temple. The
number of sheets he tore up, the enormous
variety of openings which he adopted and
cast aside at the fifth line, the sheets be-
ginning "Dear Madam" then "My Dear
Madam" then "Dear Mrs. Temple" then
my Dear Mrs. Temple" falling subse-
quently into "Mr. Brent ventures to pre-
sent his respectful compliments" )" and be-
sides these the II am overwhelmed with
confusion;" ut is, assure you, with the
most poignant sensations OF Sorrow"
"What can 1 say?" "What can urge in
ofthese were begun, cast aside, and torn up
very small, lest any one should find out
what he had been doing, thatas the night
wore on the rector gradually began to look
like man who is being showed up.
When, at twenty-five minutes past four
A. NJ, after nearly nine hours of uninter-
mitting head work, the apology was fin
ished, there was not left enough clean sta
tionery in the house for q washing bill
but in place of it there were fragments of
paper lying on the floor sufficient for the
manufacture of six full-sized paper pill
lows. With aching head, yet little con-
soled withal, the rector stumbled up stairs
to his weary pillow.
If he used thousand sheets for his letter
it may be safely computed that one thou
sand and one was all that was required
for the entire correspondence. Small was
the paper and few the lines of Mrs. Bar
bara Temples answer.
"Dear Mr.. Brent'-thus it ran-'l have
received your letter of apology, and cam
not say that it is at all more than the oc-
casion required. At the same time, as
you are sensible of the impropriety OF
your behavior, hope you will now forget
it as shall. One stipulation only make.
The subject of marriage-or indeed, any
alluson to what passed between US yester-
day-must never be made. On these
terms you are free to resume your inter-
course with my daughters and myself
Truly yours, BARBARA TEMPLE"
"a handsome letter." Mr.. Brent said.
II shall take her at her word," and after
lunch he drove over to the house with
splendid present of fruit and flowers, and
being received in the usual friendly way
by mother and daughters, and his char
impressible, he half forgot the misery of
his exit from the place yesterday: Only
when he first spoke to Mrs. Temple there
was a trepidation in his voice and manner;
but she was so obviously determined to
keep her promise that he gradually grew
composed. Once only his courage quite
failed him. Caroline, the student, was
reading history, and with that slight al
fectation of intellectual pursuits, from
which not even her mothers lectures could
guard her, she tried to call the rector's
attention to her lofty employment. The
question she asked him was an unfortu..
nate one. She was an ardent Liberal, and
inquired, in a pause in the conversation,
if he did not think that great good had
arisen from the French revolution. The
rector was so confounded by this inapposite
Interrogation that he nearly tumbled on
his chair.
The next day his thoughts were driven
into another channel. At breakfast he
got letter from his son announcing his
arrival in London, and saying that he
would be in KettleWell at half-past four
that afternoon. Amidst the vexation of
the last two days, this was prospect full
of relief, and the young fellow was recelv-
ed with more than paternal welcome.
Before the dinner was over, between the
influence of meat and wine and the socie-
ty of his son, all acting on trivial nature,
easily moved, the rector was quite COM
forted Now he could have faced Mrs:
Barbara Temple with jest and look of
pleasantly. At least, so he fancied.
Brent Junior was good-looking young
fellow of three and twenty, with frank,
simple manner we'll suited to his years.
Mentally he was much superior to his
father, and every sentence showed it; but
he behaved with filial Difference which
was pleasant to see. All through the din
ner there was touch of preoccupation and
even sadness about him, and upon this his
father remarked as soon as they were
alone.
II hope you have not left any one be-
hind p" the father asked humorously.
mo" the son answered, with blush
and a laugh. "You don't think me quite
a simpleton in this matter, do you?"
"Well, Percy, you are young," the sage
father replied. "At my time of life if a
man fell in love with picture, think he
forty-nine. l have age and experience,
and knowledge of the world"
"You are very kind to take it in that
way" the son answered. II really don't
want to be laughed at"
"Is this wonderful picture in your pos
session." Brent senior inquired next.
eyes," the young fellow answered Gag
erly and he was darting up stairs to fetch
it. Pausing on his way, he said: 81 had
better tell you the story of it first"
He made no bad picture himself, lean
ing carelessly against the sideboard, ms
face and eyes kindling as he spoke win
delight of the subject. Little Mr.: Brent
regarded him with no small pride; ana
the young fellow, with light bashfulness
which made the little narrative the more
interesting, told HISTORY.
II met an artist out there, and he and |
became great friends. He fell ill, and l
nursed him, and when he was getting bet
ter, one day, to pass the time, he asked me
to look over his portfolio. There was
great deal in it for which l cared nothing;
But Just at the end he drew out a little
! sketch of a girl-head and shoulders-.with
| q border of simple white dress, and, as |
| thought, the loveliest face l ever saw. l
was quite dumb as looked at it, and there
and then, father, fell in love; and l de-
~, ,o 4o x,op T folt that oypn If this woman |