Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-08-19


"Oh, no; am a little too old for that now.
am TO-"
The child spoke with great dignity, and
seemed to be fully impressed with the import
ance of her position as the eldest of the chill
dren.
you are very healthy thenY' asked Dr..
Armnius.
'Yes, 1 am healthy and happy"
How do you amuse yourself?'
81 study, play. read, sew: oh. there is plenty
to do in and outside of the house, and these
children bother me great deal"
"Howg'
"Oh, i have to keep them out of mischief;
they must be watched all the time. They are
a great care to me-"
you speak like little mother"
II am as much a mother now as VIII ever
be. for have made up my mind never to get
married?'
"You are a wise little maiden. Marriage was
the cause of all the mischief that now exists
in the world, or that ever has or ever VIII
exist"
"How is thatr' asked Grace. full of wonder
ment
Had not Adam married Eve he would not
have eaten the forbidden fruit, which brought
evil upon all mankind. Had not Adam eaten
that fatal apple, these children would. not
bother you at all"
II wish Adam had not eaten the apple, then"
The appearance of shr. Despard put an emo
to this interesting conversation. He dismissed
the children with a word and q smile, and then
sat down by Dr.. Arminius.
Tell me something about my Uncle William
was always very fond of him. He taught me
how to swim, to shoot and to fish. When was
old enough to appreciate literature, he directed
my studies and unfolded to my young mind the
hos md of HtPratur6.
L owe much to my Uncle William"
Your wife let fall a remark last night which
seemed to imply that your uncle had wronged
you in some way"
my wife sometimes lets her feelings run
away with her judgment, and speaks hastily
without considering the effects of her words.
You know my uncle, how does he impress
your
He always seems oppressed by some great
sorrow. In the gayest company. he alone is
sad. At banquets where wine flows and wit
sparkles. his thoughts are far away"
Poor fellow" said Mr.. Despard, with a voice
full of sympathy. He was once SO gay, so
bright, SO joyous-the life of every company,
the delight of every circle-at whose approach
all gloom disappeared as the mist before the
sum-"
IF your uncle wronged you, as your wife
intimated, have you never thought it strange
that he made no effort to repair the wrong?'
Il never have, and never will believe that he
wronged me. Left an orphan at
an early age, he was my father. friend, guar
dian, everything that clever and experienced
man of the world could be to youth just grow
ing into manhood. 1 learned to love him more
than any other person in the world"
Have you not wondered at his unbroken
silence during all these yearsf'
Il supposed that when he had anything
agreeable to say he would communicate with
me-"
~ have something to say on the subject For
years your uncle had hard struggle with for
tune, and when, at last. the tickle goddess
smiled upon him, his first desire was to write to
you, but, just then, he heard you had been
killed by a railroad accident"
That was a distant relative of the same
name,"
ut wss only few months since he heard
from the American Minister that yoa were
alive and married, and living in this village
with a large family of small children. Then
he determined to find how you felt toward him,
and whether the cause of his disappearance be-
came matter of public notoriety."
~ have never mentioned the subject to any
human being except my wife. For few days
after his departure, there were wonders, sur
misses and questions asked which no person
could answer. But nothing in New York is
more than a three days wonder. The funeral
of a hero is forgotten in the murder of mill
ionaire; the fight of a bank President to
Canada will give place to the arrival OF prima
donna from Europe. So, events will follow
one another in New York as the waves follow
another upon the sea, and leave about as much
impression,
Just then, Mrs. Despard came out and an
nounced that breakfast was served. A nights
rest had 'smoothed her wrinkled 'front.' of the
previous evening. and she was very sweet and
gracious.
The children generally made lively break
fast table, but on this morning they were re-
strained by the presence of the grave and dig
nified stranger.
Your eldest daughter has very seriously in
formed me that she never intends to get mar
ried," said DR.. Arminius, addressing Mrs. Des-
pard. That's right, Grace, don't get married
unless you find Prince Fortunatus with
purse always well filed" said her mother.
doctor, my wife thinks that money is a sure
cure for all the Ills that flesh is heir to-"
ut certainly prevents a great many of the
ills of life and prevention is much better than
cure" answered Mrs. Despard.
with five children to feed, clothe and edu-
cate, money is an absolute necessity. The
butcher and the baker must be paid or they
will not serve you with bread and meat"
my dear, DR.. Arminius can take very little
interest in all these domestic details"
''Oh, yes, do, for one of my principal objects
in coming to America was that your Uncle
William might be advised of the state of your
domestic affairs, for l know that he is deeply
In you and yours"
To this Mrs Despard replied;
"You can inform him that we have small in
come upon which to support large family;
that in order to make the two ends meets, we
have been obliged to Danish ourselves to this
village and to practice the most rigid economy.
You can say to him that 1 at least am op-
pressed with anxiety for the future of my
family, for my husband has so highly refined
and poetic q soul that he cannot make money
ike common men; that his sensitive nature re-
coils from contact with a rough and un-
world, and even in the ordinary
Affairs of life he mingles among men like be-
Tildered angel"
Your description is purely ideal, but DR..
Arminius might judge me by it. and think that
am a child in all worldly ma tiers"
You have told me q thousand times that
Tour proper place was q well-nlled library with |
unlimited leisure-that you hated all contact |
With the world" o.
81 may hate to mix with the world, but do |
10 when occasion requires. 1 hate to practice |
but do practice 1t every DAY. can |
iuit myself to my circumstances, whatever |
hey may be. believe 1 could bear the bur. |
len of sudden wealth without murmur"
Poverty is the best preparation for the |
proper appreciation of wealth, /" says DR.. Ar |
minus.
There are trials and troubles in every posi-
ion, from the monarch on his throne to the