The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1886-12-23
CHAPTER III.
A PRETTY WOMAN AND A FOOL.

taUS Gll1tG JlSU oU IAlo oiiiiC Sdl oillO
and Sybil should each get q lover. An ell
derly couple of good family and fortune, Doo-
little by name, lived in the neighborhood;
and these having but one child, son, who
would inherit large estate, decided to give
him a profession that he might escape the
dangers of an unemployed youth. He was
sent into the army, and was at present upon
leave
Egerton Doolittle was q tall young man,
slim, with light hair and lsping speech.
His attractions, if he had any, were neither
of BODY nor of mind; for rs to the hody he
was feeble in gait, with long legs OF made
uuate thickness, and he was destitute OF cye-
brows. The utmost assiduity also failc'! to
bring out mustache, although he used ca
pilary fluids of appalling strength, rightly
Judging that for man with military career
before him certain amount Of hair OIL the
face is us essential Us uniform or a sword.
His mind was of a similar pattern-weak, re-
clining and inane; in word, he had drawn
the line between sanity and imbecllity with n
most battling nicely. He walked with his
head little on one side, dressed in the top of
tho fashion, wore rs many different suits rs
there are hours in the day, lost money mildly
at cards, and came to church regularly every
Sunday morning, saying his prayers out of
book the size Of n sixpence. He had n credit
able desire to read only such publications as
were likely to improve his mind, and he al
ways inquired if work was erroneous or
not, saying that he was afraid lest he might
be led into the perusal of something erroneous,
and might never find it out Ho admired
women and adored clevCrness, frankly con-
Tossing that he had none of his own, and
thought it "such q useful thing, you know"
Indeed, he might have set for the immortal
Mr.. Tcots, with whom he had so much i'll COM
mon that fear readers may think Egerton
Doolittle only study of that great prince of
noodles But Egerton is man by himself,
in spite of resemblance which fairly sug-
gests that he is no more than a reflection.
He met Car Temple ut ball and danced
with her, and the young lady, true to herself,
incurred, in one of the pauses of the dance, If
he had read Allison's History of Europe"
Doolittle, whose weakness was not historical
study, was able with tolerable readiness, to
assure her that he had not. Hc then sank
into silence, that this part of the conversation
might settle into his mind Presently he in
quired
as that work you spoke Of just now very
big work"
"Very big" she answered.
"More than one volumer lie III -
solved not to let the talk flag.
"One volume" replied Caroline. "A'YjA.':',
I darcsay."
"A DOZEN" exclaimed Dooltte. II" was
so overwhelmed by this statement that ne
did not alter muscle Of his face nor emit
syllable for full five minutes. Then he
began again:
You haven't read it, have you.
"Oh, dear, yes," Caroline replied, with the
confidence of practised student.
"The whole dozen volumes." inquired
Doolittle, who could scarcely believe his
ears.
"The whole dozen volumes" Caroline an
swered, repeating his words with a not un-
graceful playfulness.
"Thcn you must be q tremendously clever
girl" he said, gazing at her with profound
admiration and awe.
"Clcver, because l have read twelve vol
umes" cried Caroline, who had n sprghtly
wit. ~ shall rcnd twelve hundred, and SEQ
what you say then"
"No," Egerton said, gravely; "you will not
read twelve hundred volumes, am sure"
Egerton mctlitatcd for another few minutes.
Then he asked:
"Is it an erroneous worli!"
"Thoroughly.' Car replied, with decision.
She was Il Radical.
"Don't YOU think il! dangerous to read
erroneous works!r
"Don't know" Car answered. "Not very"
She tossed her head with Il mixture of laugh
ter and light scorn.
"If were to read twelve volumes of an
erroneous work ! should he quite upset"
Eccrton said rs if he were talking of lobster
salad. upset for weeks But you are trcmcn-
dolsy strong and you know it-in mind, l
mean."