The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1886-05-26
CHAPTER z

tire cheerful and Wei pleased As to the
bridegrooms, We could see no trace OF change
for better or worse in Goldmore: but Erer-
ton was decidedly stouter, in excellent spirits.
and, from an accession of confidence, more
apt 10 make fool of himself in company
than ever
The sisters soon met, and Soohia could not
complain of any lack of sympathy on the part
of her elders. They were both at first in
clined to take prudent mammals view: but
when Sophia told them of her love and his
constancy they were touched. The world
had not yet got complete mastery over them,
and they commended Sophia, kissed her, COM
forted her, and said some day she would be
happy.
Commander-in-chief Mrs. Barbara Temple
took care TO have an interview with young
Brent She was kind and sympathetic, but
she said it was her maternal duty TO point out
TO him that-whatever Sophia might say-he
was in1uring her prospects If he kept up any
understanding with Eer. Engagement, of
course, the little woman said, ais not to be
thought Of. But even an arrangement-a
promise that each viii secretly wait for
each-would be pernic.ous snare fun of
danger to Sophias prospects"
Not. added Mrs Worldly Wisewoman.
"that these promises are ere1 kept. Facts are
too much even for lovers. / have seen fifty
of these understandings made in perfect good
faith, and from motives that were quite
pretty, but none ever came to ANYTHING
Still, | object 10 arrangements
"Your daughter is as free as if She never
saw me, Percival said. Il have made her
promise that she VIII consider that there is
not shred to bind her tone. She is to feel
that she may engage herse. and marry, and
never think that there is any intimation to
be sent TO me, except through the news
paper
"And may / ask-don't think me rude, Mr..
Brent, / am simply doing my duty-if you
are as free on your sidel If you marry,
shall she hear Of it through the newspaper,
tooF'
She looked at him sharply, almost humor-
ously, she put this penetrating question.
o, must pay a tribute TO our little
mother who had a tact that in wider fields of
action might have smoothed the feelings OF
ruffied empires
ayes, l am quite as free as she," he an
swered- "We promised each other that We
should feel So
1t was quite true. They had promised ex-
actly in these terms only the four lips that
exchanged the treaty were Immediately after
wardengaged together scaling quite another
sort of bond. Was this what Shakespeare
meant by 'p'ain and holy innocence" won
der7 And yet possibly Mrs Barbara Temple
guessed the true state of the case, but she was
satisfied. There being no engagement. she
felt sure that time, fickleness, and her great
ally. this present world, would do all she
wanted.
"Iregret what has happened, " she said grace
fully, "and regret it not alone on your ac-
count. bat on my own / should have been
pleased with the connection hope you will
prosper aud be happy, for am sure you de-
serve it. !"
E@erton Doolittle. having, after careful in
telectual filtration, so to speak, got the facts
of the Brents' case fairly deposited in his
mind expressed great commiseration for the
two men, as ne called them. He told Car
that "we ought all to give our minds to the
thing" and see what can be done. And after
a long period of cogitation he informed his
wife that he had hit ON a plan which would
restore the fortunes of the Brents, and-of
this he made a great point-withOut their
undertaking anything that could not be done
with clean hands" f"
"A gentleman under no circumstances should
soil his hands, Egerton said; "and the great
merit of what propose is that it can be done
with clean hands
Car at first thought that this implied that
the pursuit Egerton had in his mind was one
morally defensit1a or not felonious; but it
appeared thai Il a-erred only to ariStocratic
notions and traditions.
my plan is this" Egerton said, after three
quarters Of an hour of preamble which had
nearly fdgetcd his wife into fit, Il hear
there is new joint stock opera company
going to b. started Let them take shares in
that It viii be a gentlemanly. musical kind
of thing, and the great point is it can be done
with clean hands,
Caroline not being able to see the practical
value of this suggestion, Egerton resolved tc
open his scheme to his great brother-in-law
Goldmore. That e,ephantine millionaire was
forced for courtesy's sake to listen whili
Doolittle. in a speech of extraordinary lengtl
and maddening circunilocution, brought ou'
his preface; but, vexed as he was, he coule
not restrain his laughter when the youne
man wound up with the recommendation
that Brent senior and junior should TAX,
shares in the forthcoming Italian Opert
Joint Stock company.
''NIy great point IL, Goldmore," said Eyer
ton, ''that it Is a gentlemanly musical sort o.
thing. and one that can be carried OF
with clean hands. ] think gentleman
should never soil his hands, Goldmore, dom
your
~The difficulty IS" replied the grea
man, overlooking this question, %where ar
the poor men to get money TO buy theil
sharesm
"Get whatT' Ecerton asked
money to buy their shares repeated
Goldmore. Shares are not given away; yor
have to pay for them in hard cash. Now il
the present case the difficulty is that there il
no cash at all.
"Then suppose you don't approve of my
tation. "Very well One can only suggest
l withdraw the proposition StiI, l repeat
Goldmore it is not every day of the week
you can find gentlemanly musical under
taking that can lie carried out with clean
hands,
SO he took his leave. But MS visit had
some result. after all; for that Afternoon
Archibald Goldmore called upon young
Brent, and asked for a little private conver-
sation with him Goldmore was very kind
inquired what his young friend was going tc
do, nodded his head approvingly over the
details OF the Australian scheme, and marked
the young fellow out a man that would
rise
Let me say one thing to you, Mr. Brent.
be said, as he rose to 60 Il am in most re
spects a self-made man. / know the difficult
ties which even industrious and clever young
L
| tai Now. from what my wife tells me, you
have gained the affections of my sister-in- law
and may add that from what l have seen OF
/ you | am not surprised at it. As member
| of the family, take an interest in all that
concerns them Now, Brent, if a few hun
| dreds VIII help TO start you / can lend you
the sum, and / shall require no security but
| your word You shall pay me7-ihis he
added pleasantly-@when you are half as rich
| as / am"
Brent eolored very red with gratitude and
! pleasure; but for all that, his reply was not
| what the great man expected.
| Il don't know how to thank you,5 he said
/ ait is so kind an offer. But have already
saved enough to STAR me. had liberal al
lowanee, and never spent it all"
"a few hundreds extra viii better YOU
chance remarked the other.
sThank yoz a thousand times" the younl
fellow replied; @but if ! can accomplish what
| / wish out of my own resources, had rather
do it. II ever marry Miss Temple, l should
| like to feel that it my own doing from
| first to last
Goldmore looked at him with admiration
Il respect the feeling, Mr. Brent" be said
aOnly remember this: If your capital should
run short, wz5oe to me, and you viii find m.
no bad banker when the account has to b,
1 overdrawn.n
THANK you again. the young fellow an
swered. ~And that offer / do accept Yot
understand me. don't youl If ! can manag,
without any mans help should be glad; bui
rather than fail, / should most gratefully
avail myself of yours hope you don't thinl
me proud to the point of Stiffness"
AConfound it." cried Goldmore, II wish yol
were my son!'
/ And the great man marched avay dovr
/ the street as like the Tower of Babel as ever
| only in silk hat and other human fittings