The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-09-26
CHAPTER vi.
THE RECTOR's FALL.

THE RECTOR'S FALL.
Stick, gloves and hat all held in one hand
the other hand already raised for the COM
mencement of his speech. so the perturbed
clergyman broke into Mrs. Barbara temples
drawing room. He saw what might have
Gained his mind The three girls were stand
ing in a group admiring drawing which
Sibyl has just been buying, and their mother
was deep in a novel The girls looked up
and as the merry rector was favorite in the
house each fair face turned to smiles at sight
of him. Such rays ought to have melted the
angry man into kindness; but no influence
kind or stern, could have quoted him just
then
"Young ladies'" he said, abruptly, address
ing the graceful three, "my business is with
| your mOther-alOne."
This odd intimation, considering the ex-
cited manner in which he made it, meant
they thought, one thing only. Lightly they
vanished from the room, but even in going
they glanced significantly at each other; for
the subject was so interesting that they could
not delay an exchange of ideas even till they
got outside the door, The rector was going
to propose to mammal!
Mamma thought SO, too. She was not often
deceived, either by her eyes or her ears, but
for once she fancied that the tremor in the
rectors voice, his flushed cheek, his alcoholic
manner, were signs of a lovers uneasiness
Indeed, as to the manner, she without any
hesitation explained it as arising from wine
1t was still early in the afternoon, but Mrs
Barbara Temple was not angry. Teetotalism
was not yet fashionable, and the little woman
remarked to herself: "They very often give
themselves flip in that way before coming
to the point. Pity when they overdo it-and
yet l don't know"
The rector might be flustered, but Mrs
Barbara Temple was calm and pleasant
She motioned him to seat-not upon her
own sofa, but close to it; and then, laying
down her novel, she turned upon him with
her most gracious air.
Automatically $50 we say in this scientific
age) he sat down, and, still to continue the
scientific style, by the actions of the law of
gravitation his hat gloves and cane, which
he let go, went their different ways to the
floor. He did not notice the fall, and Mrs.
Temple began inly to compute how many
glasses he must have taken.
Il hope he has not gone too far" the pru-
dent woman said to herself; and her hope
grew less and less as the rector regarded her
with his red, confused visage, saying nothing
for quite a minute. Then he spoke:
"Mrs. Temple" he said, II this morning re-
ceived tremendous lesson in the hollowness
of the world"
Mrs Barbara Temple was not greatly
skilled in metaphOrical language especially
the pulpit sort; but as she knew that her Wis
ltor was not the sort of person to make re-
searches into the interior of the physical
globe, she had no great difficulty in under
standing that he spoke of the human kind
under this universal symbol
''Well, WELL" she said, shaking her head,
that very often happens. The best thing is
to be prepared for it. Don't expect too much
OF men and women, and you will learn to be
good-humored over their selfishness and
hypocrisy. After all, are we much better
ourselves! At any rate, let us keep our
temper
She stroked her dress at these words, brush
ing OFT some imaginary dust, and, looking up
at the clergyman, she smiled
THAT" the clergyman said, solemnly, "is a
terribly frivolous view to take of so serious a
subject" Then, seeing the woman of the
world elevate her eyebrows and smile more
contemptuously than before he added:
Especially when the fault is our own"
He looked at her SO directly, and with sucl
anger, that she was quite puzzled Thi
could not be the opening passage of an offt
OF marriage; and what could it be? Mrs
Temple, however, had faces and manners fol
all complications.
"Mr. Brent, she said, with Just the faint
est sign of distance about her, such as coul
either be effaced or deepened according
the occasion required II am afraid you ars
talking of something which I don't under.
stand"
Mrs. Temple" cried the over-excited little
man, dashed up by his feelings so that he fan
cled himself judge, and invested with q
Judges rights chow old are you?"
For once In her cool, self-possessed life Mrs.
Temple was really dumfounded. She looked
at her visitor, but found no word to utter
and he, with an air of the most preposterous
indignation and triumph, faced her, shaking
ms head, pursuing his lips, and putting at hel
In the most extraordinary style At last she
recovered herself. She was sorry to think
1t; but the rector must be under the Influence
of wine.
Mr. Brent" she said II think we had bet,
ter take walk in the garden" She hoped
In this quiet way to lead him to his carriage.
mol" cried the hot little fellow. eve shall
not take walk in the garden" He sneered
horribly as he repeated her words. "You
nave deceived me, Mrs. Temple, shocking.
Typ
Deceived you" she cried, now with decid
ed sternness In her voice. II am quite be
wilderedl"
/ TN