Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-11-23
A NOVEL DEALING WITH CoTEMPoRARY LIFE
BY WILLIAM BL ACK,
WRITTEN FOR THE DISPATCH.

them than did; and she talked-one morn
ing at Brighton it was-she talked rather
wildly about degradation, and SAID sne
would never be my wife. Perhaps shouiu
have paid more heed; but I had no thought
of her going away; 1 was too conn,
said. And what can now do?" he went on,
in half-despairing way. "You say you
are certain they are not in Canada or they
would have come to see you. The Scotch
men in New York told me they were posi-,
tive Mr.. Bethune was not there, or he would
have shown up at the Burns anniversary.
Well, where can go now? I must ind
her-I cannot rest until have found her
to have everything explained-and-and to
get some guarantee for the future. L
know it was all my own fault; was TOO
confident; should have asked her more
particularly what she meant But then 1
was distracted with other affairs just at that
moment; was driven into a corner; l
wished to find out what I could do If 1
married her in opposition to my people.
Well, that is all over now; l want nothing
at present but to know where she is; want
to see her-to be sure that she is we'll and
happy; the rest can come when it may"
II wonder" said Mr.. Thompson, slowly,
"what old George had in his head this time?
To him, as / say, fancies are just as real as
facts, and 1 cannot but imagine that this
has been his doing. She would not ask him
to break up all his arrangements and ways
of living for her sake; she was too submis-
sive and dependent on him for that; it is she
who has conformed to some sudden whim of
his You had no quarrel with him?"
"a quarrel? Nothing of the kind-not
the shadow of quarrelP' Vincent e1-
claimed.
"Did you mention to him those reports
about himself?" was the next question.
"Well, yes, did, in casual sort of q
way" the young man answered honestly.
"But it was merely to account for any posi-
BILE opposition on the part of my father; and
in fact, wanted Mr.. Bethune to consent to
an immediate marriage between Maisrie
and myself"
"And what did Margaret say to that9"
Mr.. Thompson proceeded to ask; he was
clearly trying to puzzle out for himself the
mystery Of this situation.
"You mean the last time I saw her-the
very last time?' the young man answered
him. "Well, she seemed greatly troubled;
as / mentioned to you, there was some wild
talk about degredatlon-tancy degradation
having anything to do with Maisrie
BethuneI-and she said it would be better
for us to separate; and she made me promise
certain things. But I wouldn't listen to
her; was going down to Mendover; made
sure everything would come right as soon as
1 could get back. And then, when got
back, they were gone-and not trace OF
them left"
"Had old George got any news about the
BalloraY estates?" the banker asked, with a
quick look.
"Not that know Of /" Vincent answered.
"Besides, if there had been any news of i'm
portance, it would have been in the papers;
we should all have seen itl''
And you and Margaret parted on good
terms?''
'Good terms2" said Vincent. "That is
YOU, I cannot say more. There are some
things that are for myself alone"
"Quite right-quite right" said Mr..
Thompson, hastily, 81 quite understand"
AT this moment a card was brought in.
"Tell the gentleman I will see him d.
rectly," was the reply.
Vincent, of course, rose.
81 confess" said the banker, fthat the
whole affai. perplexes me; and should like
little time to think it over. Have you
any engagement for this EVENING""
'No," said Vincent; 81 only arrived in
Toronto last night; and 1 don't suppose I
know any ondin the town."
"Come and dine with me at my club,
then, this evening, will you? Just our two
selves; the - club. at seven. 1 want to
talk TO you about this matter; for 1 have a
particular interest, as you may suppose, in
the little Maggie; and l want to know what
it all means. I should like to learn some
thing more about you, too, in view of GER
tain possibilities. And perhaps can give
you few hints about my old friend George,
for you don't quite seem to understand,
even with all the chances you have had.
L.
at times. You would rather shut your
eyes-for Margaret's sake, no doubt;
but 1 want to show you that there ISM
much of that needed, if you only look the
right way. At the same time, don't blame
you; go far enough when i say that re-
port about my old friend George, such as
you describe your father as having got up,
might to an outsider look remarkably like
the truth. However, more of that when we
meet. At seven then. Sorry to seem SO
rude-but this is an appointment--'
"Only one word" said Vincent do you
think there is any use in nv going any
where to make inquiries-or advertising in
the newspapers-either here or in Mon
treal?"
No." said the banker, with decision.
George Bethune has not come back to
Canada, or 1 should have heard. Margaret
would have written to me-though it is now
some time since I had letter from her.
You must first find out what induced them
to go away; and then you may discover
where they have gone. In the meantime
don't you fret and worry uselessly; the
world is remarkably small place; and I'm
bound to see my little Maggie properly set
tied in life, now that she has grown old
enough to make her choice"
That proved to be a memorable evening
To heuin with email fhinpg. Vincent off
his late solitary wanderings in unfamiliar
conditions of life, now and suddenly found
found himself at home. The quiet, old
fashioned unobtrusive comfort of this club;
the air of staid respectability; the manner OF
the walters; the very cooking, aud the order
in which the wines were handed-all ap-
peared to him to be so thoroughly English:
all the members, judging by little points
here and there, seemed also to be curiously
English in their habits and wavs. He had
received a similar impression on his first
visit to Toronto; but on this occasion it was
more marked than ever; perhaps the good
humored frendliness of this Scotch banker
had something to do with it, and their being
able to talk about people in whom they had
common concern. However, 1t was after
dinner, in a snug corner OF the smoking
room, that Mr.. Thompson proceeded to talk
of his old friend in fashion that consider
ably astonished the young man who was his
guest.
eyes" he continued, after he had ex-
amined and cross-examined Vincent with
regard to certain occurrences, there is no
doubt at all that George Bethune is a rank
old impostor; but the person on whom he
has mostly imposed, all his life through. has
been-George Bethune. 1 suppose every
one of us has in his nature certain amount