Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-10-05
eet ,ettled and chem followed. BE did not

lutely, to q small unoccupied table ct tn
further end, but he was some way from them
perchance he might be able to observe with
out being noticed. The waiter came to him
"Anythingi' was his order; gall and worm
wood there were likely to be in any disl
that might be brought. Wine?-oh yes,
flask OF Chianti-why not flask of Chianti
one might fill glass and send messsg
to Iaithless friend-a message to recall he
to herself for moment. You who are SIT
ting there, will you not drink to the health
of all false lovers-you who are sitting ther'
in such joyful company-toi qui as lie c@u
gail
He could see them we'll enough. Their
was champagne on the table; that was not o
George Bethune's ordering; the BOBBY from
the swedes and mangold was clearly play
ing the part of host. And what was snt
saying to him in return? What form die
her thanks take? Je ne puis rien donner-
gu mon caur en- marriage; that was easily
said; and might mean no more than il
meant in bygone days. Women could Sc
readily pour out, to any chance newcomer
their petit vim blanc of gratitude.
But suddenly he became aware of some
movement at the table away along there
and quickly he lowered bis book. Then he
knew-he did not see-that someone wa.
coming down the long room. He breathed
hard, with a sort of fear-and it was not the
tear OF any man; he wished he had not come
into this place; could he not even now es.
cape?
"VincentW
The voice thrilled through him; he looked
up; and here was Maisrie Bethune regard.
beautiful, so shining, so tender, and re-
,,rooobfnlt
"Did YOU not see us? Why should you
avoid us?'
The tone in which she spoke pierced his
very heart; but still-but stlll-there was
that stranger at the table yonder.
81 thought you were otherwise engaged,
said he. 81 did not wish to intrude."
"You are unkind."
Then she stood tor a moment uncertain.
1t was brave thing for this girl to walk
down loug room to address young man,
knowing that more than one pair OF eyes
would be turned towards her; and here she
was standing without visible aim or errand.
won't you come to our table. Vincent"
she asked hesitatingly.
And then he noticed her embarrassment;
and he felt he would be a craven hound not
to come to her rescue, whatever the quarrel
between them.
Ous YES SCItdluly l may, UuL VIII
no sort of gladness in his consent; and then
he bsde the waiter fetch the things along.
She led the way. When he reached the
table he shook hands with George Bethune,
who appeared more surprised than pleased.
Then Maisrie made feeble little kind of
introduction as between the young men !:
Vincent-who had not caught the others
name-bowed stifhy, and took the seat that
had been brought for him. And then, see
ing that it was on Maisrie that all the re-
sponsibility of this new arrangement had
fallen, he forced himself to talk-making
apologies for disturbing them, explaining
how it was he came to be in Brighton, and
begging MaIsrie not to take any trouble
about him; it was only too kind of her to
allow MIN to join them.
And yet it was very awkward, despite
Maisrie's assiduous little attentions, and
her timid efforts to pfopitiate everybody.
The fresh-complexioned young gentleman
stared at the intruder; grew sullen when he
observed Maisrie's small kindnesses: and
eventually turned to resume his conversa-
tion with Mr.. Bethune, which had been
interrupted. Vincent, who had been yeady,
on the smallest provocation, to break forth
in flame and fury, became oontemptuous;
ne would take no heed of this person; nav,
he would make use of the opportunity to
show to anyone who might choose to listen
on what terms he was with Maisrie.
"Where are you living Maisrie?" said
he, and vet still with certain stiffness.
She gave him the number in German
Place.
''Then we are neigbors, or something near
it," he said. 81 am at the Bristol-the
Bristol Hotel"
'Oh, really" she made answer. "I
! hT ho1 l,,,.. ID =. L
the lady who came to see US at Henley"
''Oh, can you remember things as long
ago as Henley?" said he. 81 did not think
q woman's memory could 60 so far back as
that. A week-a day. thought that was
about as much as she could remember
For moment she was silent, and wound
ed; but she was too proud to betray anything
to those other two, and she resumed her
with Vincent, though with
trihe more OF dignity and reserve. As for
him, he knew not what to do or saw. He
could perceive, he could not but perceive.
that Maisrie was trying to be kind to him;
and he felt himself sort of renegade; but
all the same there was that other sitting at
the table-there was an alien presence-and
all things were somehow awry. And vet
why should he despise that stranger? In
the bucolic dandy he could see himself, as
HC ulluoC1a was oCCuy py CCi VI ulS
friends. This other dupe, his successor, had
a countrified complexion and a steely blue
eye, he wore horseshoe pin in diamonds,
and had bit OF stepbanotis in his button
hole; but these points of difference were not
of much account. And the old man-the
old man with the grand air and the oracu-
lar speech; no wonder he thought himself
entitled to call himself Lord Bethune; but
why had he chosen to abate his rank and
style? Oh, yes, a striking presence enough
a magnificent presence-with which to.
cozen shopkeepersl
For indeed this young mans mind was
all unhinged. He had had hard fight OF
it all day; and perhaps if Maisrie had
known she would have made allowances.
What she did see was that her we'll meant
invitation had been a mistake. She strove
her best to remove this embarrassment; she
tried to make the conversation general; and
in some slight measure she succeeded; but
always there was an obvious restraint; there
were dark sllences and difficult pauses; and,
on the part OF the young men. sulIen and
dangerous antagonism that might at any
moment leap forth with sudden tongue of
fame-a retort-an Insult
This hapless entertainment came to an
emo at last; and, as Vincent had expected,
while Maisrie was putting on her cloak,
their new friend stepped aside and paid the
bill-the bill Tor three, that is. And the
next step? An invitation that the generous
host should go along to the rooms in Ger
man Place? There would be tobacco. and
Scotch whisky, and "reminiscences OF travel,
and dissertations on literary aud philo-
sophical subjects-and perhaps Maisrie
would play tor him ''The Flowers O. the
Forest" or sing for him "Isabeau s'y
promene." Perhaps the bucolic soul was
penetrable by fine melody. There would
whisky and soda at any rate, and a blazing
fire.