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

In that state of riot and darkness which in
most cases is the acknowledged preliminary
CHAPTER VI
THE REcToR's FALL.
Stick, gloves and hat all held in one hand,
the other hand already raised for the COM
mencement of his speech, SO the perturbed
clergyman broke into Mrs Barbara Temples
drawing room. He saw what might have
Gained his mind. The three girls were stand
ing in group admiring drawing which
Sibyl has just been buying, and their mother
was deep in a novel The girls looked up,
and as the merry rector was favorite In the
house each fair face turned to smiles at sight
of him. Such rays ought to have melted the
angry man into kindness; but no influence,
kind or stern, could have quieted him just
then.
"Young ladies'" he said, abruptly, address
ing the graceful three, my business Is with
your mother-alone."
This odd intimation, considering the ex-
cited manner in which he made it, meant,
they thought, one thing only Lightly they
vanished from the room, but even in going
they glanced significantly at each other; for
the subject was SO interesting that they could
not delay an exchange of ideas even till they
got outside the door. The rector was going
to propose to mammal
Mamma thought so, too She was not often
deceived, either by her eyes or her ears, but
for once she fancied that the tremor in the
rector's voice, his flushed cheek, his alcoholic
manner, were signs of lovers uneasiness.
Indeed, as to the manner, she without any
hesitation explained it as arising from wine.
It was still early in the afternoon, but Mrs.
Barbara Temple was not angry. Teetotalism
was not yet fashionable, and the little woman
remarked to herself: "They very often give
themselves a flip in that way before coming
to the point. Pity when they overdo it-and
yet don't know
The rector might be fustered, but Mrs.
Barbara Temple was calm and pleasant.
She motioned him to a seat--not upon her
own sofa, but close to it; and then, laying
down her novel, she turned upon him with
her most gracious air.
Automatically $50 we say in this scientific
age) he sat down, and, still to continue the
scientific style, by the actions Of the law Of
grayitation his hat, gloves and cane, which
he let go, went their different ways to the
floor He did not notice the fall, and Mrs.
Temple began inly to compute how many
glasses he must have taken
u hope he has not gone too far" the pru-
dent woman said to herself; and her hope
grew less and less. as the rector regarded her
with his red, confused yisage, saying nothing
for quite minute Then he spoke:
"Mrs Temple" he said u this morning re-
ceived tremendous lesson in the hollowness
Of the world"
Mrs. Barbara Temple was not greatly
skilled in metaphorical language, especially
the pulpit sort; but as she knew that her Wis
itor was not the sort of person to make re-
searches into the interior of the physical
globe, she had no great difficulty in under
under this universal symbol.
"Well, WELL" she said, shaking her head,
"that very often happens The best thing is
to be prepared for it Don't expect too much
Of men and women, and you will learn to be
good-humored over their selfshness and
hypocrisy. After all, are we much better
ourselves? At any rate, let us keep our
temper"
She stroked her dress at these words, brush
ing of some imaginary dust, and, looking up
at the clergyman, she smiled.
@That, !" the clergyman said, solemnly, lis a
terribly frivolous view to take Of SO serious a
subject Then, seeing the woman of the
world elevate her eyebrows and smile more
contemptuously than before, he added:
Especially when the fault is our own"
he looked at her SO directly, and with sucl,
anger, that she was quite puzzled. Th,
could not be the opening passage of an offer
Of marriage; and what could it bea Mr.
all complications tis
aMr. Brent" she said, with just the fair
est sign Of distance about her, such as COZ,
either be effaced or deepened ACCORDING
the occasion required, II am afraid you are
talking Of something which ] don't under
stand.n
@Mrs Temple" cried the over-excited little
man, lashed up by his feelings SO that hefan-
cied himself judge, and invested with
judges rights, show old are you"
For once In her cool, self-possessed life Mrs.
Temple was really dumfounded. She looked
at her visitor, but found no word to utter,
and be, with an air OF the most preposterous
indignation and triumph, faced her, shaking
his head, pursing his lips, and putting at her
In the most extraordinary style. At last she
recovered herself. She was sorry to think
it; but the rector must be under the influence
Of wine.
aMr. Brent" !" she said, II think we had bet
ter take o walk in the garden" She hoped
in this quiet way to lead him to his carriage
aNoF" cried the hot little fellow, Hwe shall
,.of tolxn a xvaIk In fI,a cravf1an " TTa srpnrad