Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-05-28
the occasion required, ri am afraid you are
talking of something which l don't under

stand"
'Mrs Temple" cried the over-excited little
man, lashei up by his feelings so that he fam
cied himself a judge, and invested with
judges rights chow 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 he, with an air of the most preposterous
indignation and triumph, faced her, shaking
his head, pursuing his lips and putting at her
in the most extraordinary style At last she
recovered herself. She was sorry to think
81 but the rector must be under the influence
of wine.
"Mr Brent" she said, "I think we had bet
ter take walk in the garden" She hoped
in this quiet way to lead him to his carriage.
"Nol" cried the hot little fellow, I'VE shall
not take a walk in the garden" He sneered
horribly as he repeated her words. "You
have deceived me, Mrs. Temple, shocking
lyi"
"Deceived you'll" she cried, now with decid-
ed sternpess in her voice. 81 am quite be-
wildered"
"Is-it-not-truen continued Mr.. Brent,
beating time to each word, as if he were
counting in music lesson, "that-you-jilt
-ed-a-gen-tle-m a-bout-the-tlme
of the - French--revolution" The as
founding form of this question, and possibly
some fact in her actual life which it brought
to sharp memory, caused Mrs Temple to
change color But she was really too amazed
to make any answer. Mr.. Brent was now a
kind of drawing room red Indian and in the
exact frame of mind in which these children
of nature begin to feel for their tomahawk.
Acknowledgements lead me - to - be
lieve - that -you-are-for-ty -five-and-
no-more!" he demanded, still hitting his open
palm as he emitted each monosyllable.
Amidst all her amazement Mrs. Temple
could now see in what style she ought to treat
the man. and so, rising with admirable COM
posure, she made as if she would at the next
word ring the bell
"Mr Brent" she said severely, and she
said no more She looked striking; her
diminutive well-knt figure opposite his, which
was in funny posture, suggestive enough of
tipsy rhetoric, and her stern still face looking
into his flushed and puffy visage.
"You cannot deny it," he went on, true
illustration of the old saying, that whom the
gods wish to destroy they first make mad
He might even yet have saved himself, if he
would have fairly noted her aspect; but still
he believed she trembled before him! under
that false impression l was actually going to
have married you; in fact, might have mar
ried you, and not found out the truth till all
was over"
Mrs. Temple had by this time begun to get
an inkling of the whole truth and now like the
general she was she prepared to crush the
enemy First she stretched out her hand
imperiously, and signing to a small arm
chair
asst down there" she said.
Amazed in his turn, but quailing already,
Mr.. Brent obeyed. How he got safely seated
is mystery, for he never looked at the chair,
nor lifted his eyes from her.
"When you first came into this ROOM" she
said, in more imperious tones than before, 81
thought you were drunk. The next minute
thought you were mad 1t took a little
longer to show me that you are neither, but
only impairment
The little man gazed up at her open-mouthed,
like dying fish. All the strength of his fury
was gone.
"How dare you ask me my age,' she now
demanded, driving the question into him like
a dagger. He realizing for the first time his
own absurdity made no answer
"When did I tell you | was rty-five" she
asked, changing to a cold, sarcastic tone
"Tell me-"
"Well' he stammered; 81 don't exactly
know; but everybody said that was your age
and-and I"-he scratched his head with a
pitiable air-"l supposed you must have told
them"
"Oh, then it seems it was not I that
said 500"
ooh, no; it was not you"
He made this admission eagerly, to show
that he was ready to be civil. She went on,
growing colder as he grew more confused:
"You spoke of marrying me; had you ever
asked me,'
"No; had not" he replied, with dismal
expression of CONSERVATION. "But l-l-l-
fancied-'
"You fancied that you are so engaging that
the only question is whether you ask or not
The lady's reply would be like the vote Of
thanks at your missionary meetings-it would
60 by reclamation"
He hung his head. It was new ex-
perience in life for poor Mr.. Brent to have to
sit silently by while the demonstration that
he was an ass was quietly and logically
worked out.
"Now, Mr. Brent" she said, calmly, 'let
me enlighten you. You are an amusing
chatterer, and you have position in this place.
did not object to know you, and to be on
easy terms with you. But as to marrying
you, I should not have done it-not even if
you had knelt at my feet for year. You
are not agreeable to me. | don't think you
would be agreeable to many women, You
might find some one who would marry you
for your money; l tell you candidly don't
think you will ever meet woman, be she
twenty-five or forty-ive or seventy-ive, who
would marry you for yourself"
"Mrs Temple" the miserable man said,
now thoroughly abashed, 81 feel | have made
great blunder. Had l not better bring this
visit to an end!"
"Not unless you wish it," she answered.
1--WE can change the subject, that will be suf
ficent"
1t was the quintessence of contempt, and re-
duced him to the station of a buzzng fly
which need not be killed if it ceases to make
itself disagreeable
She rang the bell, and until the servant ap
peared she allowed the clergyman to enjoy
his situation in silence.
"Send the young ladies here" she said
Poor little Mr.. Brent hung his head low In
deed as the girls came back. Suppressed fur
and curiosity were In their every feature; bu,
schooled in self r,OssessiOn nv THAR r,othar