The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-05-15

know; but everybody said that was your age,
and-and I.-he scratched his head with
pitiable air-aI supposed you must have told
the1np
aOh, then II seems it was not that
said sor
aOh, 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 be grew more confused;
@You spoke of marrying me; mad you ever
| asked meg'
mo; had not he replied with dismal
expression of CONSERVATION "but i-i-l-
iancied-"
"You fancied that you are so engaging TINT
the only question is whether you ask or not
The lady's reply would be like the vote of
thanks at your missionary meetings lit would
20 by aeclamationa
| He hung his head. 1t was a new ex
ns,rience 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
ehatterer, and YOU havea position iii this place.
| did not object TO know you, and to be on
aasy terms with you. But as to marrying
| YOU, / should not have done it-not even if
YOU had knelt at my feet for a 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 five, who
would marry you for yourself"
Mrs. Temple" the miserable man said,
now thoroughly abished, Il feel | have made
a great blun,ler Had not better bring this
| visit 10 an end"
| Not unless you wish it," she answered
| we can change the subject, that will he SUI
| ticient.'
1t was the quintessence of contempt, and re
| iuced him to the station of n huZzing fly,
which need not I've killed ii it ceases to make
| itself diSagreeable
She rang the he'll, and until the servant ap-
peared she allowed the clergyman 10 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 seli-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, mir. Brent has beer
here on 8 curious mission
He looked up at her, appealing for mercy,
and she returned his look with an expression
which he believed denoted that mercy WIS
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
her parish annuitant; but, fortunately, be
fore he committed himself he WAS told Ger
tain facts about her. He learned that ST.
had misconductei herself at the time 9th,
French revolution, was it not, Mr.. BrentH
He could not answer. He looked at her,
petrified and dumb
Mr.. Brent has been very cautious, y She
went on; ''he has not told me the name OF
this old woman ] don't really think, girls
her hist0ry-or the business Mr. Brent GALES
shout-concerns you at all. But still
thought would like to ask you if you hay,
beard of any old woman in .his parish who i.
very old, and tries to seem very young wht
niisconducta-j herself during the French rev
| aiationr
Never heard of her," the wondering girl
called out all together. Don't you know he
naneF
you see, girls she answered, Mr.. Bren
Is 50 very discreet that he never makes
blunder. He can hear everything and n,
nothing. As | said, it does not concern YOU
DOT me either, only Mr.. Brent thought it did
We shall not speak OF the matter again
Nor, Mr.. Brent, shall we have our littl
walk in the gardenir
He rose with them, trying TO find wor,
which might enable him to play the part sh
assigned him: but none came. Only as the,
descended the fight of steps into the ground
he managed to whisper in her ear, " You ar
The cteuersst CONAN erer kae,r"
She turned upon him with look full o
meaning.
Ny good man. she whispered hack, i
accents Of the utmost scorn- don't troubl
yourself TO say what am You are q area
| fooir