Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-12-14

tion-want of understanding-is that to be
literal? Perhaps it is. But thought you
said something just now about Mr.. Bethune
and prison; will you tell me of any one
action of his that would suggest imprison-
ment?''
"Your aunt was merely talking of theo-
ries," said Musselburgb, rather uneasily,
for he had not intended to use the phrase.
''What urge is this-why shouldn't both
of you admit that there may be something
in the others view of Mr.. Bethune, and
agree to differ? I stand between you; can
see now how much can be advanced on both
sides"
"And so you would patch up truce"
said Vincent "How long would it last?
OF course do not know for what period of
banishment my kind relatives stipulated;
95, 900 is a considerable sum to pay; sup
pose they bargained that Mr.. Bethune and
| his granddaughter should remain away from
England for some time. But not for ever?
| Even then, is it to be imagined that they
cannot be found? Very we'll, then. Either
! in this country or abroad, Miss Bethune and
meet lace to face again; and she becomes
nv wife-I hope. 1t is what 1 live for.
! And then? Where will your patched-up
truce be then? Beside, don't want any
sham friendships with people who have
acted as they have done
SIT was in your interest, Viu," his friend
again urged. "Whv not give them little
of the leniert judgment you so freely ex-
tended to those others"
'To those others?" replied Vincent, firing
up hotly. "To whom?"
"To Mr.. Bethune, then" was the pacific
reply.
sciously wronged any human being. But
L k1a,, - al L..
doing when they played this underhand
again. through her devotion to her grand
father? 1 have told you before, there is no
use crying peace, peace, when there is no
peace. Let them undo some of the mischief
they have done, first; then we will see. And
look at this silly afectation of secrecy!
They told me too much when they told me
they had paid money to get George Bethune
out of the country; then L understood why
Maisrie went; then 1 knew ! must have
patience until she came back-in the same
mind as when she left, that know we'll. 1
was puzzled before, and sometimes anxious;
but now l understand; now I am content to
wait. And have plenty to do in the mean
time. l have to gain proper foothofd-
and make some provision for the future as
we'll: already am Independent of anybody
and everybody. And perhaps, in time to
come, when it is al. over, when all these
things have been set right, l may be able to
forgive; but shall not be able to forget"
This was all the message that Lord Mus
selburgh had to take home with him, to his
wiie's profound distress. For she was very
fond of her nephew and very proud of him,
too, and of the position he had already won
for-himself, and what she had done she had
| done with the best intentions towards him.
Once indeed, she confessed to her husband
that In spite of herself she had a sort OF sneak
iug admiration for Vincents obdurate con-
sistency and faith, insomuch, she said, that
| if only the old man and all his chicaneries
were out of the way-she could almost find it
in her heart to try to like the girl, tor Vim
cents sake.
"The real question" she continued, "the
| thing that concerns the most of all to think
of is this: Can a girl who has been so dragged
through the mire have retained her purity
of mind and her proper self-respect? Surely
she must have known that her grandfather
was wheedliug people out of money
right and left, and he took her
about with him to enlist sympathy?
Do you suppose she was not per-
fectly aware that Vincent invariably paid
the bills at those restaurants? When trades
people were pressing for money, do you
fancy she was in ignorance all the time ?
| very well what llfe Tor any one 10 ledu
How could she hold up her head among
ordinarily honest and solvent people? Even
supposing that she herself was all she ought
to be, the humiliation must have sunk deep.
And even if one were to try to like her,
there would always be that consciousness
between her and you. You might be sorry
; for her, in kind of way; but you would be
still sorrier for Vincent; and that would be
dreadful"
"My dear Madge," her husband said-in
his character OF mediator and peacemaker,
"you are arguing on series of assumptions
and prejudices. If Vim does hold on to his
faith in those two-and if he does in the emo
marry Miss Bethune-I shall comfort my
self with the conviction that he was likely