Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-07-20

sion. EVERY drop of blood in Eer veins Is
Scotch-and of a right good quality too.
Well, you have heard-you have heard. Do
you think any one could understand those
old Scotch airs who was not herself Scotch
in heart and soul?"
ST never heard anything SO beautiful, u
the young man answered, in an undertone:
indeed, he seemed hardly capable of talkino
about her, any more than he could fix his
ewes steadily on her face. His forced glances
were timorous and fugitive. There was
something sacred-that kept him at a dis.
tance. It was enough to be conscious that
she was there; his only prayer was that she
should remain; that he and she should be
together, if little way apart, looking at the
same skies and water and trees, breathing
the same air, hearkening to the same sounds,
So he kept on talking to the old man, in
rather a nervous and eager fashion, fearful
all the time that either of them should pro-
! pose to go.
And thus itcame about that young Harris
seemed to have good deal to say for him.
self; he appeared to forget that he was
speaking to two strangers; rather, he was
| chatting with two neighbors whom he
wished to be his friends. And the old man.
in his self-sufficlent and dignifed way, was
| quite content to encourage this new ac-
quaintance. His conversation was some
thing to pass the time withal; he was
modest, well-mannered, intelligent; there
was an air of distinction about him that
! showed good up-bringiug as well as some
/ decision of character. No doubt he was of
a wealthy family, or he could not have spent
so much of his time in travel; by accident
he had mentioned one or two well-known
people as though he were in the habit of
familiariy meeting with them; from some
passing hint as to the nature of his studies
Mr.. Bethune gathered that this pleasant
spoken. pleasant-smiling neighbor was
destined for a public career. There was
even something interesting, in one who had
grown old and callous of the worlds shows,
in noting the bright enthusiasm OF the
young man, the clear light in his eyes, the
general air of strength and ease and cour-
age that safe lightly on him, as beftting
one who was in the very May-morn of his
youth.
But at last, for shame's sake, Vincent
Harris had himself to rise and break up this
all too attractive companionship. He said,
with great humility:
"But I am sure I ought to apologize to
Miss Bethune for having taken up so much
of your time. Rather an unwarrantable in
trusion; but I don't think there is any
chance of the rain coming now-and-and-
so 1 will say goodbye"
"Good-bye-glad to have made your ac-
quaintance," said old George Bethune, with
a grave courtesy.
And Maisrie made him little bow-for
he was locking at her rather supplicatingly
as he raised his hat and withdrew. Their
eyes had met once more: she could not we'll
have avoided that. And of course she saw
him as he walked away southwark, across
the bridge, until he disappeared.
GA very agreeable young man, that"
said Mr.. Bethune, with decision, as he rose
to his feet and intimated to his grand
daughter that they had better set forth
again. Frank in manner, gentle, cour-
teous, intelligent. too-very different from
most of the young men of the day."
His granddaughter was silent as she
walked by his side.
"What-don't you think so, Maisrie?' he
said, with touch of impatience, for he was
used to her assent.
81 think, " she answered, little proudly,
"that he showed a good deal of confidence
in coming to speak to you without knowing
you; and as for his playing those airs in the
evening, end In such a way-well, don't
like to use the word impertinence-but
still"
He was surprised; perhaps trife vexed.
"Impertinence. Nonsensel Nonsensel
Frankness and neighborliness-that was all;
no intrusion, none; a more modest young
man have never met. And as for his COM
ing up to speak to me, why, bless nv life,
that merely shows the humanizing effects of
travel. 1t is like people meeting at table
d. hote; and what is the world but big
table d. hote, where you speak with your
neighbor for little while, and go your way,
and forget him? Observation-Disclosures
nonsense! He was natural, unaffected,
outspoken, as a young man should be; in
fact, I found myself on such friendly terms
with him that forgot to thank him for
the little service he did us-did you, 1 !
should say. Bashfulness, Maisrie," he con- |
tinued, in his more sententious manner,
"bashfuIness and stiffness are among the |
worst characteristics of the untrayeled and
untaught. Who are we-whatever may be |
our lineage and pride of birth-that we
should fence ourselves round with palisade |
of suspicion or disdain?"
And thus he went on; but he met with no
response. And he did not like it; he grew |
all the more emphatic about this young |
man; and even limited that women were !
curiously perverse creatures, who evinced |
no liberation, or sympathy, or good nature |
in their judgment OF their fellow beings.
What was her objection? To his appear
ance?-he was remarkably gook-looking, !
and refined in aspect, without a trace of |
effeminacY. To his manner?-he was almost |
hnmble in his anxiety to please. To his |
talk?-but he had shown himself most |
bright, good-humored, alert and well-in-
formed.
"He had no right to come up and speak
to you, grandfather" was all she would say,
and that with a quite unusual frmness.
In the evening, after dinner, when the
time came at which Maisrie was accustomed
to take up her violin, there was obviously
little embarrassment. But George Bethune
tried to break through that by forced dis
play of geniality.
"Come, now, Maisrie," said he, in gay
fashion, "our neighbor over the way was
enough to come up and offer
us his hand; and we must return the COM
pliment. One good turn deserves another
Get your violin and play something; he will
"Grand ather, how can you ask me ?" she
said, almost Indignantly; and there was that
in the tone of her voice that forbade him to
press her further.
But perhaps the universal stiffness that
prevailed thereafter conveyed some kind OF
to her; or perhaps her heart
soltened a little; at all events she presently
said, in rather low voice and with diff
dent manner:
"Grandfather, if you-if you really think
the young gentleman wished to be kind and
obliging-and-and if you would like to
show him some little politeness in return
couldn't you step across the way-and
and see him, and talk to him for few
minutes? Perhaps he would be glad of
that, if he is quite alone"
"a canital idea. Maisrie." the old man