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

at dinner Tablet is someone who is dis
tant from me, as if had no concern v ith
him any longer. People come up TO me and
say, oh, heard your nephew speak at the
Mansion Honse the other afternoon or L
met your nephew at the Foreign Office last
! night and ! cannot say, Don't you know;
he has gone and made himself stranger to
us?'"
"I wonder who it was who made a stranger
of mel" he interposed-but quite impass-
lively,
81 can only say, again and again, that it
was done for the best, VIM she answered
him. 'sThe mistake made was in letting
you know. But took it for granted that
as soon as you were told that those people
had accepted money from us to go
away"
"Those people? What people?" he de-
manded, with sterner air.
"Oh. meant only Mr.. Bethune himself,
said she. hastily. "Oh, yes, certainly, only
him; there were no negotiations with any
| one else."
"Negotiationsr' he said, with a touch of
scorn. "Well, perhaps you can tell me
what those negotiations were? How long
did Mr.. Bethune undertake to remain out of
| this country?"
''Three years, Vin," said she, timidly re-
"Three years?" he repeated, in an absent
way.
'But there is no reason" she added
| quickly, "why he should not return at any
moment if he wishes; so understand; of
| course, did not make the arrangement
| but believe that is so.
"Return at any moment?" he said slowly.
"Do you mean to tell me that you put
$4,000 into that old mans hands, on con-
dition he should leave the country for three
years, and that all the same you left him
tree to return at any moment?"
"Of course he would forfeit the money, I"
SAID she, rather nervousIy.
| but how could he forfeit the money if he
already has it? He has got the money; you
showed me the receipt. Come, aunt" said
he. in quite different tone, "let us be a
little more honest and above-board. Shall
/ tell you how I read the whole situation?
You can contradict me if am wrong. But
that receipt you showed me; wasn't it pro-
duced for merely theatrical purposes; wasn't
| it meant to crush and overwhelm me as piece
of evidence? The money wasn't handed over
like that, was it? Supposing 1 were TO
| conjecture that somebody representing you
or representing my father has still got con-
troll over that money; and that it is to be
| paid in installments as it is earned-by
|
He fixed his eyes on her; she hesitated-
and was little confused.
''I tell you, VIM" she said, II had person
ally nothing to do with making the ar
rangement; all that was left in George
Morris hands; and, OF course, he would
take whatever precautions he thought
necessary. And why should you talk about
theatrical purposes? really did not think
that when could show you Mr.. Bethune
was ready to take money from strangers to
60 away from England you would change
your opinion of him. But apparently, in
your eyes, he can do no wrong. He is moi
to be judged by ordinary rules and stand
ards. Everything is to be twisted about on
his behalf, and forgiven, or even admired.
Nobody else is allowed such latitude of con-
struction; and everything is granted to him
because he is George Bethune. But ]
don't think 1T is quite fair: or that you
should take sides against your own family"
This was an adroit stroke, following upon
very clever attempt to extricate herself
from an embarrassing position; but his
thoughts were otherwise occupied.
II sh,uld like you to tell me" said he,
''if you can, what moral wrong was involved
in Mr.. Bethune consenting to accept that
money. Where was the harmon the igno-
miny? Do you think I cannot guess at the
representations and inducements put before
him, to get him to stay abroad for three
years? Why, could almost tell you, word
for word, what was said to. himl Here was
an arrangement that would be of incalcula-
BILE benefit to everybody concerned. He
would be healing up family dissensions.
He would be guarding his granddaughter
from marriage that could only bring her
disappointment and humiliation. Three
years of absence and forgetfulness would
put an end to all those projects.
And then, of course, you could not ask
him to throw up his literary engagements
and incur the expense of travel, without
some compensation. Here is a sum Of
5000, which will afford him some kind Of
security, in view Of this disturbance of his
engagements, A receipt Oh, yes, receipt.