Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-03-30
CHAPTER XXI.
THE THIRD APPEAL.


CHAPTER XXI.
THE THIRD APPEAL.
Face to face they stood, while at the vision
of her sweetness his heart grew still. Face
to face, and the faint light fell upon her
tender loveliness and died in her deep eyes,
and the faint breeze fragrant with the breath
of pines gently stirred her hair. Oh, it was
worth living to see her thusl
81 beg your pardon" she said in puz-
zled tone, stepping forward to pass the
gate.
Beatrice p'
She gave a little cry, and clutched the
railing, else she would have fallen. One
moment she stayed so, looking up toward
his face that was hid in the deepening
sbadow-looking with wild eyes of hope and
fear and love.
''Is it yOu," she said at length, "or an
other dream?"
SIT is I, Beatrice" he answered, amazed
She recovered herself with an effort.
"Then why did you frighten me SOP" she
asked. sit was unkind-oh, did not mean
to say anything cross. What did 1 say9 I
forget. am so glad that you have comer"
and she put her hand to her forehead and
looked at him again, as one might gaze at q
ghost from the grave.
"Did you not expect me9" Geoffrey
asked.
Expect you? no. No more than ex-
pected-" and she stopped suddenly.
"1t is very odd, " he said; III thought you
knew that your father was going to ask me
down. 1 returned from London with him"
From London" she murmured. "I
did not know; Elizabeth did not tell me
anything about it. 1 suppose that she for
got"
Here am at any rate. and how are
you?"
''oh, well now, quite we'll. There, I am
all right again. 1t is very wrong to frighten
people in that way, Mr.. Bingham" she
added in her usual voice. "Let me pass
through the gate and 1 will shake hands
with you-if." she added in tone of gentle
mockery, lone may shake hands with so
great a man. But I told you how it would
be, did 1 not, Just before we were drowned
together, you know7 How is Effie9"
''Efie flourishes." he answered. "Do you
know you do not look very grand. Your
father told me that you had cold in the
winter, and Godfrey shivered as he thought
of the cause. 80
"oh. thank you. I have nothing to COM
plain of. am strong and we'll. How long
do you stay here?"
Not long. Perhaps till Tuesday morn
ing, perhaps till Monday"
Beatrice sighed. Happiness is short. She
had not brought him here she would not
have lifted finger to bring him here, but
since he had come she wished that he was
going to stay longer.
SIT is supper time" she said; "let Us 20
in"
At length supper was done, and Elizabeth
retired to her room. Presently, too, Mr..
Granger was called out to christen q sick
baby, and went grumbling, and they were
left alone. They sat in the window-place
and looked out at the quiet night.
TELL me about yourself" said Beatrice.
So he told her. He narrated all the steps
by which he had reached his present posi-
tion and showed her how from it be might
rise to the topmost heights of all. She did
not look at him and did not answer him. but
once when he paused, thinking that he had
talked enough about himself, she said, "Go
on; tell me some more"
At last he had told her all.
"Yes," she said, you have the power
and the opportunity, and you will one day
be among the foremost men of your genera
tion."
81 doubt 1t" be said with a sigh. .T am
not ambitious. only work for the sake of
the work, not for what it will bring. One
day l daressy that shall weary of it all
and leave it. But while do work, 1 like
to be among the first in my degree"
"Oh, no" she answered, "you must not
give 1t up; you must go on and on. Promise
me" she continued, looking at him for the
first time promise me that while YOU
have health and strength you will perseyere
till you stand alone and quite pre-eminent.
Then you can give it up."
why should 1 promise you this, Bea- |
rice 2"
Because ask it of you. Once I saved |
your life, Mr.. Bingham, and it gives me |
some little right to direct its course. wish |
hat the man whom saved to the world |
should be among the first men in the world, |
lot in wealth, which is an accident, but in |
Intellect and force. Promise me this and 1 |
hall be happy"
II promise you" he said, ~ promise that |
will try to rise because you ask it, not be- |
'ause the prospect attracts me-" but as he |
poke his heart was wrung. 1t was bitter
o hear her speak thus of future in which |
he would have no share, which. as her
words implied, would be a thing utterly
part from her, as much apart as though she |
we're dead.
"Yes, he said again, ''you gave me my
life, and it makes me very unhappy to
hink that can give you nothing in return.
Oh, Beatricei / will tell you what 1 have
lever told to anyone. I am lonely and |
yretched. With the exception of yourself,
do not think that there is ANYBODY who
eally cares for-I mean who really sympa-
hiZes with me in the world. / dare saw
hat it is my own fault, and it sounds hu-
nlliating thing to say, and, in q fashion, q
elhsh thing. 1 never should have said it
o any living soul but you. What is the
lse OF being great when there is nobody to
york for? Things might have been differ
mt, but the world is hard place. If you
you"
At this moment his hand touched hers; it
vas accidental, but in the tenderness of his
eart he yielded to the temptation and took
t. Then there was a moments pause, and
cry gently she drew her hand away and
hrust it in her bosom.
you have your wife to share your for
une, " she said, "you have Efiie to inherit
!, and you can leave your name to your
ountry."
Then came heavy pause.
And you," he said, breaking it, "what
uture is there for your"
She laughed softly. Women have no
nture and they ask none. At least I do NOT
ow, though once did. It is enough for
hem ii they can ever SO little help the lives
others. That is their happiness, and
heir reward is-rest."
Just then Mr.. Granger came back from
is christening and Beatrice rose and went
} bed.
Looks little pale. doesn't she, Mr..