Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-05-19

see him; we all liked him cordially. / told
him that if hedidn't mind potluck, he must
feel at liberty to drop in and dine with Us
whenever his inclination prompted and his
leisure would permit. He took me at nv
word, as meant he should; and fromkhat
time forth he broke bread with aS heVets
schooner than one evening out Of the seven.
AT the end of month, or perhaps six
weeks, Josephine said to me, ''Do you
think it is well, brother, that two young
people of opposite sexes should be thrown
together as frequently and as closely as Mr..
Fairehild and Miriam are?''
'Why not?" questioned I.
''The reason is obvious. How would you
be pleased if they should fall in love F'
''The Lord forbid But see no danger
of their doing so.''
''There is always danger when beautiful
young girl and spirited young man see
too much of each other"
''But Mr. Fairehild pays no more atten-
tion to Miriam than he does TO you, or me.
They are never left alone together They
are simply good friends.''
''As yet, perhaps, yes. But time wofks
changes. True, as you say, they are never
left alone together-not exactly alone, that
is. But are they not virtually alone when
you and 1 are seated here in the library
over our DackgdumOn DOdrQ, ana Lney are
there in the parior at the piano ?''
"But, my dear sister, the two rooms areas
one. The folding doors are never closed.'
True again. We are all within sight
and hearing of one another. But as a mat
ter of fact you and give no heed to them,
nor do they to US. There are certain laws
of nature which should not be ignored"
"Well, what do you want me to do?"
inquired, rather testify ''Shall i forbid
Fairchild the house? Forbid my house to
the man who saved my life2'
"Oh, no, Of course not. You know ]
could not wish such q thing as that. Mr..
Fairchild's claims upon our gratitude must
never be forgotten; and besides, like him
and enjoy his visits as heartily as you do.
Only"
"0nly what? If I don't forbid him the
house, how can prevent him, and Miriam
meeting? Shall direct her to keep her
room whenever he comes?''
ST do think, brother, it would be well IL
she were not always present when he comes.
If you wish to hear my honest opinion, I
believe tits to see her that he comes so
often, and not to see a couple ofsober elderly
persons like you and me. cannot fancy
that you and are so irresistibly attractive
as to draw him to our house as frequently a.
once or twice week. However, only
wished to call your attention to the matter.
1t is for you now to act as your best judg-
ment dictates"
"Well, then, my good Josephine, I shall
not act at all. There is no occasion for my
acting. 1 shall be unjust and unreasonable
to prevent these two young folks getting
what innocent pleasure they can from each
others society and friendship, simply be-
cause, in the abstract, 1t is true that they
are not incapable of falling in love. 7
might as reasonably enjoin Miriam against
ever going out of doors. because it is pos
sible that in the street she might be run
over; against ever drinking a glass Of
water, because it is possible that the water
might contain disease germ. You have
conjured up q ehimera. Your fears are
those of a too imaginative woman When
1 perceive the first symptom Of anything
sentimental existing between them Twill
be time enough to act.
perhaps then, bfother, it viii be too
late, retorted Josephine, and with that she
dropped the subject.
Well, of course, as the reader has fore
seen, that very complication when my SIS
ter feared and warned me of, and which
refused to consider-of course that very
complication came to pass. Fsirehild fell
in love with Miriam, and Miriam recipro-
Gated his unfortunate passion Otherwise,
his name had never been introduced into
this history, or rather there would have been
no such history to relate.
In June, 1888, Josephine, Miriam and I
went down to the little village Of Maskata-
ouonk (familiarly, Quonk), on the coast Of
Maine, ther5 to rustieate until September.
Toward the end of July Fairchild joined rs
there, pursuant to an arrangement made ere
we lett the city; and it was on the evening
of the 18th of August that he requested q
few minutes private talk with me, and then
Informed me Of the condition of affairs.
81 love your niece with all my heart and
soul, DR.. Benary; indeed, I have loved her