Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-11-02

recalled themselves to each others memory,
with hopes and good wishes for the coming
time.
Buta startling surprise was at hand.
About 1 80 o'clock on the last night OF the
old year a note was brought upstairs to him
by a servant. His face grew suddenly pale
stantly recognized.
"Who brought this?" he said, breath
lessly.
"a man, sir.''
els he waiting?''
''No, sir; he said there was no answer"
''What sort of man?" asked Vincent, with
the same rapidity-and not yet daring to
open the letter.
IA common sort of man, sir.
VERY well-you needn't wait"
The moment that the servant had re-
tired Vincent tore open the envelope; and
the first thing that he noticed, with sud-
was no address at the head of the letter. 1t
ran thus-the handwriting being little
tremulous here and there:
DEAR RVINCENT-Whe you receive this
we shall be far away; but have arranged
that you shall get it just before the New
Year, and 1t brings my heartfelt wishes for
your happiness as Well as the goodby that
I cannot say to you personally now. What
1 foresaw has come to pass; and it will be
better for all of us, think; though it is not
with very light heart that l write these
few lines to you. Sometimes wish that we
had never met each other; and then again 1
should never have known all your kindness
to me and to my grandfather, which will
always be something to look back upon;
and also the companionship We had for
time, which was so pleasant-you would
understand how pleasant to me 1t you had
known what had gone before, and what is
now likely to come after. But do not think
repine; more has been done for me than
ever can repay; and as 1 am the only one
to whom my grandfather can look now for
help and sympathy, should be ungrateful
indeed il grudged it.
Forgive me, dear friend, if 1 speak so
much of myself; my thoughts are far more
often concerned about you than with any
thing that can happen to me. And know
that this step we are taking, though it may
pain you for little while, will be salutary
in the end. You have a great future before
you; your friends expect much of you; you
oweit to yourself not 70 disappoint them.
And after little while, you will be able to
go back to the places where we used to 60,
and there will be nothing but friendly
recollections of pleasant evenings, and am
sure nothing need ever come between us Gas
you feared) mean in the way of having,
kind thoughts of each other, always and
always; and when you marry no one will
more heartily wish you every happiness ard
blessing than 1 shall. This is to be my last
letter to you; 1 have promised. L wish
1 could make it convey to you
all 1 think; but you will understand, dear
Vincent, that there is more in it than ap-
pears in these stiff and cold words. And an
other kindness L must beg of you, dear
friend, before saying goodby-and farewell
it is this: Would you try to forget little
OF what L said to you that morning or the
pier? If you thought there was anything
1 said was little more than a girl should
have confessed, would you try to forget it,
dear Vincent? l was rather m1serable-I
foresaw we should have to say goodby to
each other. when you would not see it, for
you were always so iull of courage and con-
fidence; and perhaps told you more than 1
should have done-and you will try to for
get that. l don't want you to forget it all,
dear Vincent; only what you think was said
too frankly or hurriedly - at such
moment.
"And now. dearest friend, this is goodby;
and it is goodbv forever, as between you and
me. will pray for your happiness always.
"MAISRIE.
T.. O.-l0ere WAS Que Lulug L Sdlu 10 you
that you promised you would not forget
I'M"
1t was barely II o'clock. He went down
into the hall, whipped on overcoat and hat,
and the next moment was striding away
toward Mayfair; he judged, and judged
rightly, that a boon companion and a poet
was not likely to be early abed on such
night. When he reached the lodging house
in the little thoroughfare of Park street, he
could hear singing going forward in the
subterranean kitchen; nay, he could nj axe
out the raucous chorus
Says Wolseley. says he,
To Arab,
You can fight other chaps but you can't fight
He raped at the door; the landlady's
daughter answered the summons; she
showed him into room, and then went be-
low for her father. Presently Mr.. Hobson
appeared-quite creditably sober, consider
ing the occasion.
did you bring note down to me to-
night, Hobson?" was the young mans first
question.
81 did, sir"
His heart leapt up joyously; his swift sur
mise had been correct.
And has Miss Bethune been here re-
cently?" he asked with great eagerness.
head. THAT was Civ me when they was
going away, and says she, 'Hobson, says
she. L can trust you; and there's never a
word to be said about this letter-not to no
one whatever; and the night afore New
Years Day you'll take it down yourself
and leave it for Mr. Harris Which 1 did,
sir; though not waitin', as 1 thought there
wasn't a answer; and ope there's nothing
wrong, SIR"
Vincent was standing in the middle of the
room-not listening.
"You have heard or seen nothing, then, of
Mr.. Bethune or of Miss Bethune, since they
leit?'' he asked absently.
Nothing, sir-honly that took notice of
some advertisements, sir, in the papers"
81 know about those, ." said Vincent
So once more, as on many and many a
recent occasion, his swiftly y-blossoming hopes
had been suddenly blighted; and there was
nothing for him but to wander idly and
pensively away back to Grosvenor Place.
But the New Year had something else in
store for him beside that He was returned,
unopposed, for the borough OF Mendoyer.
And about the first thing that his constitu-
ents heard, after the election, was that their
new member proposed TO pay a visit to the
United States and Canada, and that at pres
ent 10 date. had been fixed for his return.
To be Continued Neat Sunday.