Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-05-28
CHAPTER Y.
VANITY CAN vANoUIsH LOVE.


The following morning Mr.. Brent received
a letter from his son in Australia, announc-
ing his intention of returning to England for
a few months. The reason Of this return the
letter went on to furnish. The son said he
feared his father would think him very
foolish; but love was bringing him home, and
here was the worst Of the matter-love under
very peculiar circumstances. He had fallen
in love with-a pictured He had seen tho
portrait of girl whose face had impressed
him as never the living face of any woman
had, and having ascertained that the original
of the picture really lived, and was English,
and not duchess OF a princess, which well
she might be, but a girl of his own rank in
life, young Brent was determined to find her
out and try to secure her for himself. The
letter wound up in very ingenious language,
admitting the apparent absurdity OF the
whole proceeding; but protesting that the pas
sion was true and deep, and that nothing
could end it except realization or absolute
and ascertained hopelessness
Rector Brent was a good natured man and
a kind father; so he shook his head and
smiled over his sons folly, being a sage him
self But he wrote a kind reply, saying
that his son would be always welcome home
under any conceivable circumstances, and
seemed rather wild, yet he well knew that in
the latter scenes Of the affair his son would
be ruled by his own good sense and his
fathers counsel
And now the rector said, as he sealed
this praiseworthy epistle, II think before Per-
cival comes home had better have my af-
fairs settled" This he said and as he spoke
be looked at his own likeness in the chimney
glass. Something struck him Dear me,n
he exclaimed, II must get some new teeth y
For fifty years of good living had told upon
this portion of his mechanism; and now re-
fecting that he was about to marry, he
reasoned thus: AT such times we refurnish
our houses. Think of a man refurnishing his
house, and not refurnshing his mouth! II
am to have a new dining table / ought to
have new set OF teeth to use at it. BESIDES"
He grinned in the glass. Yes" he said,
shaking his head, mot at all progressing. "
He grinned again, and this time by the power
of fancy set new white teeth in the vacant
spaces. Not doubt of it," he murmured
the greatest Improvement
So that morning. instead of making pro-
posal of marriage TO the lively widow, he
went to an adjacent town. where notable
dentist practiced, and here he had his jaws
overhauled and a plan of the projected i'm
man of chat, and when he ascertained whence
the parson came he had all sorts of questions
to ask about various people in the neighbor-
hood, and curious stories to tell, and gossip to
exchange; so that our little rector, perched In
the operating chair, laughed and chirruped
and looked the image of enjoyment. Short
sighted mani
"By the way" said the dentist pausing a
moment with one of his tools in his hand,
'has not Mrs. Temple settled in Kettlewen
during the past years"
Rector Brent knew that n faint blush shot
out Of his cheek as he answered "Yes."
"A remarkable woman" the dentist con-
tinued forgetting his task, while with med
itative face he seemed to contemplate bygone
days. "A very remarkable woman"
"a very, gerry remarkable woman," the
rector replied, determined to add an adverb
in this very peculiar case.
"Wonderfu energy" said the dentist
"Most wonderful the rector rejoined, still
on the augmentation principle.
"And such face and tigureln the operator
said again
"Ah such face and fgurel" repeated the
rector, unable to refrain from rubbing his
hands together.
"For her years" the dentist remarked, In
an explanatory voice
80, come, comet" cried the rector, in tones
of remonstrance 81 don't see that. She is
youthful certainly, and sprightly but still
women are not old at forty five"
AT What fivei" asked the dentist, not hav-
ing caught the first word
"Forty five" repeated the rector boldly
and emphatically
Seventy five, more likely" the blunt dem
tist said now intent on his tool which was
out Of repair
40, see, see" cried Rector Brent; you
arc talking Of her mother. We don't know
the mother. The mother does not live with
them now"
"Unless Mrs. Barbara Temple is herself
and her mother at the same time l am not
talking of her mother" the dentist an
swered THAT lady is seventy years OF age,
if she Is seven
Saying this with great unconccrn, he ad-
vanced to take some further measurement OF
the clergyman's mouth, and observing his
face of horror, he said, reassuringly:
"Dont be uneasy; am not going to take
anything out,
The rector, gasping, waved him away. SO
conyulsive were his movements that for
moment the dentist feared that he might have
left one of his minor implements in the
patients mouth, which implement, having
been inadvertently swallowed, was, from
its unaccommodating material and unusual
shape, doing violence to nature in one or
other of the canals which traverse the human
continent
"Do you mean to say" said the astounded
clergyman at last, that Mrs Barbara Tenn
plc--the lady who has three fine daughters
Is more than forty-fvef'
Before one of those young ladies was