Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1886-11-24

hypocrisy. After all, are we mucn DetLer
ourselves! At any rate, let us keep our
temper"
She stroked her dress at these words, brush
ing off some imaginary dust, and, looking up
at the clergyman, she smiled.
THAT" the clergyman said, solemnly, us
terribly frivolous view to take Of so serious
subject" Then, seeing the woman Of the
world elevate her eyebrows and smile moro
contemptuously than before, he added:
Especially when the fault is our own."
He looked at her so directly, and with such
anger, that she was quite puzzled. This
could not be the opening passage Of an offer
of marriage; and what could it bea Mrs.
Temple, however, had faces and manners for
all complications.
"Mr Brent" she said, with just the faint
est sign of distance about her, such as could
either be effaced or deepened according az
the occasion required, IT am afraid you are
talking of something which I don't under
stand"
"Mrs. Temple" cried the over-excited little
man, lashel up by his feelings so that hefan-
cied himself a judge, and invested with a
judges rights chow old are your
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, puring 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
"Mr Brent" she said, II think we had bet
ter take walk in the garden" She hoped
in this quiet way to lead him to his carriage
"No!" cried the hot little fellow, 1--WE shall
not take walk in the garden" He sneered
horribly as he repeated her words. "You
have deceived me, Mrs. Temple, shocking
lyw
"Deceived you" she cried, now with decid-
ed sternness in her voice. II am quite be-
wildercd!'
"Is-it-not-true," continued Mr.. Brent,
beating time to each word, as if he were
counting in music lesson, "that-you-jilt
-ed-a-gen-tle-ma -bout-the- time
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
tomake any answer. Mr.. Brent was now q
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
-did-you-not- t-lead-me -to--be-
lieve -that-you-are- -for-ty-fve-a
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
"1r. Brent" she said severely, and she
said no more. She looked striking; her
diminutivo well-knit 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, a 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 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 O small arm
chair.
"Sit 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, u
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."
Thelittle man gazed up at her open-mouthed,
like dying fish. All the strength of his fury
was gone.
"How dare you ask Inc 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 tell you was forty-fiveF' she
asked, changing to a cold, sarcastic tone.
Tell me-"
WELL" he stammered; II don't exactly
know; but everybody said that was your age,
and-and I"-he scratched his head with
pitiable air-"I supposed you must have told
them"
"Oh, then it seems it was not that
said so9"
"Oh, no; it was not you"
He made this admission eagerly, to show
that he was ready to be civil. She went on,
-~,,o,,,;,,c. oo1Jo,. ba crroyy moro ponfucad.
"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
90 by acclamation."
He hung his head. 1t was a 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, should not have done it-not even If
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 seventy-fye, who
would marry you for yourself"
AIRS. Temple" the miserable man said,
now thoroughly ebashed, u feel I have made
a great blunder Had not better bring this
visit to an cnd'"
"Not unless you wish it," she answered.
1--WE can change the subject, that will be suf-
ficient"
1t was the quintessence Of contempt, and re-
duced him to the station Of a buZZing ny,
which need not be killed if it ceases to make
itself disagrccable
She rang the bell, and until the servant ap-
reared 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 fun
and curiosity were in their every feature; but
schooled in self-possession by their mother,
they were careful to appear as far as possible
unconcerned
Girls" the little lady said, looking upon
them with eyes of fire, Mr.. Brent has been
here on a curious mission"
He looked up at 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 make