The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1886-12-23


nor lifted his eyes from her.
@When You first came into this room,' she
said, in more imperiors topes :laa before, Il
thought you were drunk. The next minute
thought you were mad. 1t took little
longer to show me that you are neither, but
only impertinent."
The little man gazed up at her open-mouthed,
like dying fish All the strength of his fury
was gore.
"How dare you ask ME my age she now
demanded, driving the question into him like
dagger. He, realizing for the first time his
O. n aosurdity, made no answer.
"When did tell you was forty-hve:" she
asked, changing to cold, sarcastic tone.
"Tell me-"
% "Well," he stanlmered; II don't exactly
know: but everybody said that was your age,
and-and I'-he scratched his head with
pitiable air-"1 supposed you must have told
Them
aOh, then it seems it was not that
said so!'
HOh, 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!'
aNo; 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 would
90 by reclamation"
He hung his head. It was a new eS-
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.
aNow. Mr.. Brent" she said, calmly, "let
me enlighten you. You are an amusing
chatterer, and You have position i'll this place.
1 did not object to know you, and to be on
easy terms with you. But as to marrying
YOU. should not have done it-not even il
YOU had knelt at my feet for year. You
are not agreeable to me. l don't think you
would be agreeable to many women. You
might find some one who would marry YOU
for your money; tell you candidly don't
think YOU will ever meet woman. be she
twenty-five or forty-five or seveaty; five, who
would marry you for yourself"
"Mrs. Temple" the miserable man said,
now thoroughly abashed, II feel l have made
a great blunder Had not bette" bring this
visit to an end"
Not unless you wish it," she answered.
awe can change the subject, that will be SUI
ficient."
It was the ouintessence of contempt and re-
duced him to the station of b,Izing ny,
which need not be killed If it ceases to make
itself tlisagrecablc.
She rang the bell, and until the servant APP
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 canic back. Suppressed fun
and curiosity were in their every feature; hut
schooled in self-possession by their mother,
they were careful to appear as far as possible
unconcerned.
"Girls," the little Indy said, looking upon
them with eyes of fire, Mr.. Brent has been
here OIL n curious mission"
He looked up ut her, appealing for mercy,
and she returned his look with an expression
which he believed denoted that mercy was
out of the question.
"He has been interested about an old
woman in this parish of whom he heard much
that was favorable. He. was going to mako
her a parish anMuitant; lut, fortunately, be-
fore he committed himself he was told cer-
tain facts about her He learned that she
had miscondrcted herself at the time of-the
French revolution, was it not, Mr.. Brent!'
He could not answer. He looked at her,
petrified and dumb.
"Mr. Brent has been very cautious, she
went on; she has not told me the narne OF
this old woman. don't really think, girls,
her history-or the business MIR. Brent called
about-concerns you at all. But still
thought would like to ask You If you have
heard of any old woman in this parish who is
very old, and tries to seem very young, who
1nisconducted herself during the French rev.
olutionW
@Never heard Of her." the wondering girls
called out all together. "Don't you know her
nameF'
"You see, girls" she ans vered, sN1r. Brent
is 90 very discreet that he never makes
blunder. He can hear everything and say
nothing AS said, it does not concern you,
nor me either, only Mr.. Brent thought It did.
We shall not speak Of the matter again.
: No,c, Mr.. Brent, shall we have our little
walk in the gardenT
He rose with them, trying to find word
which might enable him to play the part she
assigned him; but none came. Only as they
descended the flight of steps into the grounds
he managed to whisper in her ear, "lou are
the clererest luonan l erer kne,U."
She turned upon him with look full Of
meaning.
"My good man," she whispered back, i'll
accents of the utmost scorn, don't trouble
yourself to say what am. You are great
fool"
BOOK TWO.