The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1886-05-12
CHAPTER "
FIFTY AND FORTY-FIvE.

FIFTY AND FORTY-FIvE
Our little town of KettleweIl had inhab-
itants to the number of ten thousand, and
three churches: but0f these latter. two were
what at that date were called district
churches, and the great ancient parish church
was the ecclesiastical center of the town.
Like many another such noble structure, it
was but poorly endowed, and the rewards
which it offered to its minister We're chiefly
the contemplation of venerable architecture,
and a social position of considerable import
ance. The saying always was that none but
a man of fortune could be rector of Kettle
well. Consequently, at each vacancy the
bishop was in a difficulty Rich men he could
find, able men he could find; but to find one
rich and able too, was not so easy, and at the
last appointment, being unable to meet with
a clergyman thus doubly qualified he had
chosen wealthy parson of rather meager
abilities, who was now our spiritual
chief. The Rev. Anthony Brent was a
cheerful man, undersized, with a merry nose
of ruby, and a countenance denoting neither
deep learning nor that isolation of character
which is natural in men who live above the
world. Indeed, Mr. Brent did not live, nor
affect to live, one inch above the level of
commonplace cheerful life. He told us from
his pulpit that human things are frail and
nothing worth, and that man is full of misery:
but having folded up his sermon, he seemed
to have folded up his theology too for when
you met him on week days he was full of
comfort and good cheer. Perhaps we are
fastidious people; perhaps we are ignorant;
certain it is that we never could quite satisfy
ourselves that Mr. Brent was altogether
gentleman. His manners were no better than
a blithe lissom creature such as he might have
and thirty-five. He had way of alluding to
''ny gardener" and my banker which
seemed to show, so Sparkling said-Mr. Brent
employed the rival practitioner-that some
time in his life he had neither bank nor
garden 1t is very possible that had he
not been so good natured, his vul-
garity might ha e been obvious, which it
never was; for, indeed, we could not be quite
sure that he was vulgar at all. Another thing
puzzled us; where had his fortune come froml
He was very wealthy and widower, and our
idea was that Mrs. Brent had brought the
money. This, too, was guess, and nothing
but guess. Such, then, was our rector;
man liked, but not greatly respected, and yet
a man whom none could condemn or fairly
despise; shallow man, equal to reading his
newspaper, and no more; ON good terms with
the world, able without any strain of con-
from standard divines, and at the same time
live an easy average life; a comfortable man,
with good intentions, sound digestion, a full
purse and cellar and one who never let his
kitchen chimney freeze.
Il was the reverend widower Brent whom
we upon consideration had assigned TO our
lively Mrs. Barbara Temple as third husband;
and events went rapidly to show that our
forecast was notI inexact Mr.. Brent was
about fifty; Mrs Barbara Temple was well
known to be about forty-five; so that on the
score of age there was nothing against the
match; and as to inclination, the rector soon
made it evident that there was no obstacle on
his side Everybody remarked that he took
the Temples up with remarkable warmth.
He gave dainty little lunches and snug little
dinners for them; and he was forever calling
in his carriage 70 take one or other of the
girls drive, the little mother attending as
:haperon. At first we were in doubt as to
which he was pursuing-mother or daughters; /;
and we even thought that grave Sophia, with
her heavenly face, had attracted him; but
we forgot that he was a man of some
common sense. Mrs. Temple was his choice;
her vivacity, her polish, her knowledge of the
world, her untiring energy, were all after his
OWN heart. He soon began to drop hints, as
men do who have uatrimony in their heads.
Mrs. Temple was a remarkably fine woman. "
HForty-five was the exact age that the wife of
man of fifty Mould be-the exact age y
Mrs. Temple did not look forty-five' Che adj
mitted that, 'but"-and he would drop his
yoice-@he knew she was every day of it. +"
The intimation was that he had either seen
the register of her baptism or she had told
him the fact direct, and he declared over and
over again, with amusing earnestness and pub
Of; that for a man OF his standing one year
younger would be one year too young, and
one year older one year toe old. OF course,
20 far he had not said that he hoped or wished
TO marry Mrs. Temple, but the drift of his
conversation and conduct was unmistakable.
In the meantime it was evident that the
lively widow did not dislike attentions which
had now become SO marked that even those
saw them who could see nothing. She ex-
changed compliments freely with the rector,
invited him to her house, praised his ser
mons, and she was actually found one even
ing at missionary meeting over which he
presided She listened to his speech with the
utmost attention, sitting erect, and keeping
her eyes fixed upon him, although it would
have been hard to say whether she knew or
cared less about the subject. She could not
have told in which continent the district
were white, brown or black; but
she listened as attentiyely as if she
had been hearing of dear relations in a
far-off land. In short, with garden parties
and lunches and dinners and drives, things
went so far that we all considered the matter
settled: and when we heard that no proposals
had yet been made, we all agreed that there
must be tacit engagement, which. for some
private reasons, was not just yet to be avowed.
To all intents and purposes, we regarded Mrs
Temple and Mr.. Brent as affianced: and, on
the whole, we approved of our rector's choice.
Certainly we should have liked lady more
interested in religious affairs; but then, We
argued, it was much better than if he had
married a young woman So, balancing
matters, we accepted the event with satisfae-
/ ton
/ The rector was in ecstasies He was in his
eleme,sS, dancing attendance on these four
brilliant women; and really a careless oh
serve might have been puzzled to tell which
of the four he was pursuing. In the mos
polished of hats, the newest of suits, the mos
faultless Lavender gloves, and looking al
over a comfortable ecclesiastic, he would iii
around them, glowing and beaming witt
satisfaction. The girls, for their part, &C
cepted his civilities with charming freedom
and their mother-shrewd wonlan-nevel
manifested the smallest jealousy In this
beside proving her own good sense, she pail
her adu1irer compliment which he fully de
served; for he looked upon the three girls a.
daughters already, and Was fond of them il
flue most uarental fashion