Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-03-16

quite excited about the result. For one
thing she found that the contest attached an
| Importance to herself in the eyes Of the
truly great which was not withoutits charm.
On the day ofthe poll she drove about all day
under bright blue parasol in an open car
riage, having Efie (who became rather
bored) by her side and two noble lords on
the front seat. AS a consequence the re-
suit was universally declared by a certa in
section of the press to be due to the efforts
of an unprincipled but titled and lovely
woman. 1t was even said. that like another
lady of rank in past generation she kissed
butcher in order to win his vote. Fut
those who made the remark did not know
Lady Honoria; she was incapable of kissing
a butcher, or indeed anybody else;
her inclinations did not lie in that direction.
In the end Geoffrey was returned by a
magnificent majority of ten votes, reduced
on a scrutiny to seven. He took his seat In
the House on the following night in the
midst of loud Unionist cheering. During
the course of the evenings debate one of the
members of the Government made alluslon
to his return as proof of the triumph of
Unionist principles. Thereon very lead
ing member OF the Separatist opposition re-
torted that it was nothing of the sort, that
it was a matter OF common notorlety that
the honorable members return was owing
to the unusual and most uncommon ability
displayed by him in the course of his can
yass, aided, as it was, by artfully applied
and aristocratic feminine influence" This
was delicate allusion to Honoria and her
blue parasol.
AS Geoffrey and his wife were driving
back to Bolton street, after the declaration
of the poll, q little incident occurred. Geot-
frey told the coachman to stop at the hrst
telegraph Office, and, getting out of the car
rage, wired to Beatrice: sin by ten votes. !"
"Who have you been telegraphing to,
Geofrey?" asked Lady Honoria.
II telegraphed to Miss Granger" he an
swered.
"Ahl So you still keep up correspond
ence with that pupil teacher girl
"Yes, do. wish had few more
such correspondents.
Indeed. You are easy to please. I
thought her one of the most disagreeable
young women whom ever met"
Then it does not say much for your
taste, Honoria."
His wife made no further remark, but she
had her thoughts. Honoria possessed good
points; among others she was not jealous
person; she was too cold and too Indifferent
to be Jealous But she did not like the idea
of another woman obtaining an influence
over her husband, who, as she now began to
recognize, was one OF the most brilliant men
of his day, and who might we'll become one
of the most wealthy and powerful. Clearly
be existed for her benefit, not for that of
any other woman. She was no fool, and
she saw that considerable intimacy must
exist between the two. Otherwise he would
af fa1a hi tnP ofrio
al such q moment.
Within week OF his election Geoffrey
made speech. 1t was not very long
speech, nor was it upon any very important
issue; but it was exceedingly good of its
kind, so good that 1t was reported verbatim,
and those listening to it recognized that
they had to deal with new man who would
one day be a very big man. There is no
place where an able person finds his level
quicker than in the House of Commons,
composed as it is for the most part of more
or less wealthy or frantic mediocrities. But
Geoffrey was not mediocrity, he was an
exceedingly able and powerful man, and
this fact the House quickly recognized.
For the next few months Geoffrey worked
as men rarely worked. All day he was at
his chambers or in court, and at night he
sat in the House, getting up his briefs when
no solicitors had to complain that the
interests OF their clients were neglected by
him; also he still found time to write to
Beatrice. For the rest he went out but
little, and except in the way of business
associated with very few. Indeed, he grew
more and more silent and reserved, till at
last he won the reputation of being cold and
hard. Not that he was really so. He threw
himself head and soul into his work with
fixed determination to reach the top of the
tree. He knew that he should not care
very much about it when he got there, but
he enjoyed the struggle.
Geohrey was not a truly ambitious man;
he was no mere selEseeker. He knew the
follv of ambition too well, and its end was
always clearly before his eyes. He often
thought to himself that if he could have
chosen his lot he would have asked for q
cottage with good garden, 500 a year and
somebody to care for. But perhaps he
would soon have wearied of his cottage. He
worked to stlfe thought, and to some extent
he succeeded. But he was at bottom an
affectionate-natured man, and he could not
stife the longed-for sympathy which was
his secret weakness, though his pride would
never allow him to show it. What did he
care for his triumphs when he had nobody
with whom to share them? All he could
away freely enough. 1t was but little that
A certain share OF his gains he put by, the
rest went in expenses. The house in Bolton
street was a very gay place in those days,
but its master took but little part ia its
gaieties.
And what was the fact? The longer ne
remained separated from Beatrice the more
did he long for her society. 1t
was of no use; try as he would. he could not
put that sweet face from his mind; it drew
him as a magnet draws a needle. Success
did not bring him happiness, except in the
sense that it relieved him from money cares.
People of coarse temperament only can
find real satisfaction in worldly triumphs
and eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow
they die! Men like Geofrey soon learn that
this also is vanity. On the contrary. as his
mind grew more and more wearied with the
strain of work, melancholy took an ever
stronger hold OF it. Had he gone to doc
tor he might have been told that his liver
was out of order, which was very likely
true. But this would not mend matters.
''What a worldp' he might have cried.
''What world to live in when all mans
happiness depends upon his liver?' He
contracted an accursed habit of looking on
the black side of things; trouble always
caught his eye.
1t was no wonderful case. Men of large
mind are very rarely happy men. 1t is your
little, animal minded individual who can be
happy Thus women who reflect less are, as
a class, much happier and more contented
than men. But the large-minded man sees
too far, and guesses too much of what he
cannot see.
So think Geoffrey and his kin, and in
their unexpressed dismay, turn, seeking
refuge from their physical and spiritual |
hut for the most part finding