Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-03-23


Geoffrev had given her a sixpence with
hole in it she would have valued it NOR
than all the diamonds on earth. Oh! wha
a position was hers. And it was wrong, too
She had no right to love the husband OF an
other woman. But, right or wrong, the fac
remained. she did love him.
And the worst of it was that, sooner o.
later, all this about Mr.. Davies, as she wei
knew, must come to the ears of her lathe
and then what would happen? One thing
was certain. In his present poverty-strickel
condition he would move heaven and eartl
to bring about her marriage to this ricl
man. Her father never had been very scru
pulous where money was concerned, and tht
pinch OF want was not likely 10 make hin
more so.
Nor, we may be sure, did all this escape
the jealous eyes of Elizabeth. Thing:
looked black for her, but she did not Intend
to throw up the cards on that account. Only
it was time to lead trumps. In other words,
Beatrice must be fatally compromised In
the eyes of Owen Davies, if by any means
this could be brought about. So far things
had gone well for her schemes. BeStrIce
and Geoffrey loved each other, OF that Eliza
beth was certain. But the existence OF this
secret underhand affection, would avail
her naught unless it could be con-
strued into acts. Everybody is free to
indulge in secret predictions, but if once
they give them way, if once woman s
character is compromised, then the world
avails itself of its opportunities and de-
stroys her. What man, thought Elizabeth,
would marry a compromised woman? II
Beatrice could be compromised Owen Davies
would not take her to wife-therefore this
must be brought about.
Elizabeth was a verv remorSeless person:
she was more-she was a woman actuated by
passion and BY greed, the two strongest mo-
tives known to the human heart. But with
her remorselessness she united a considera-
bic degree of intelligence, or rather of intel
lect. Had she been savage she might have
removed her sister from her path by a more
expeditions way; being what she was, she
merely strove TO effect the same end by
method not punishable by law; in short, by
numbering her reputation. Would she be
responsible if her sister went wrong, and
was thus utterly discredited in the eyes of
this man who wished to marry her and whom
Elizabeth wished to marry? OF course not;
that was Beatriee's affair But she could
give her every chance of falling into temp
tation, and this it was her fixed design to do.
Circumstances soon gave her an opportu-
nifty. The need of money became very
pressing at the vicarage. They had literally
no longer the wherewithal to live. The
tithe PAYERS absolutely refused to fulfil their
obligations. As it happened, Jones, the
man who had murdered the auctioneer was
never brought to trial. He died shortly
after his arrest in a fit of delirum tremens
ana nervous prostration, brought on by the
sudden cessation of a supply of stimulants,
and an example was lost that, had he been
duly hanged, might have been made of the
results of detying the law. Mr.. Granger
was now too poor to institute any further
proceedings, which, IN the state OF public
feeling in Wales, might or might not sue
ceed; he could only submit, and submission
meant beggary. Indeed he was already
beggar. In this state of affairs he took
counsel with Elizabeth, pointing out that
they must either get money or starve. Now,
the only possible way to get money was by
borrowing, and Mr.. Granger's suggestion
was that he should apply to Owen Davies,
vino had plenty. Indeed, he would have
done so long ago, but that the squire had
the reputation OF being an exceedingly close
listed man.
But this proposition did not at all suit
Elizabeth's book. Her great object had
been to conceal Mr.. Davies desires as re-
CARDS Beatrice from her father, and her
daily dread was that he might become ac-
quainted with them from some outside
father went mp TO the castle to borrow
money it would be lent, or rather given,
freely enough; but she also knew that the
lender would almost certainly take the op-
portunity, the very favorable opportunity,
TO unfold his wishes as regards the bor-
rower'S daughter. The one thing would
naturally lead TO the other-the promise of
her fathers support Of Ovens suit would be
the consideration for the money received
How glad that support would be given was
also obvious TO her, and with her father
pushing Beatrice on the one side and Owen
Davies pushing her on the other, how could |
Elizabeth be sure that she would not yield? |
Beatrice would be the very person to be car
ried away by an idea of duty. Their father |
would tell her that he had got the money on |
this understanding, and it was quite pos
Hible that her pride might bring her to fulfill |
a bond thus given, however distasteful the |
deed might be to her personally. No; her |
father must at all hazards be prevented |
from seeking assistance from Oven Davies. |
And yet the money must be had from some |
where or they would be ruined.
All, she had it-Geoffrey Bingham should |
lend the money! he could well afford it
now, and she shrewdly guessed that he |
would not grudge the coat off his back if he |
thought that by giving it he might directly
or indirectly help Beatrice. Her father |
must 60 up to town 10 see him, she would |
have no letter writing; one never knows |
how a letter may be read. He must see Mr..
Bingham. and if possible bring him down
to Bryngellv. In a moment every detail OF
the plot became clear to Elizabeth's mind.
and then she spoke.
"You must not 20 to Mr.. Davies father"
she said: The is a hard man and would onlv
refuse and put you in a false position; you
- T.
now, and he is very fond of YOU and of
Beatrice He will lend YOU e10O at once.
You mast 90 to London by an early train
tomorrow, and drive straight to his cham
bers and see him. 1t will cost you 60 to get
there and back, but that cannot be helped:
il is safer than writing, and L am sure that
you will not go for nothing. And see here.
father, bring Mr.. Bingham back with Won
for few days if you can. 1t will be a little
return for his kindness, and know that he
is not we'll. Beatrice had a letter from him,
in which he said he was so oVerworked that
he thought he must take little rest soon.
Bring him back for Whit Sunday"
Mr.. Granger hesitated, demurred and
finally yielded. The weak, euerulous old
farmer clergyman, worn out with MANY
daily cares, and quite unsupported bv men
tai resources, was but a tool in Elizabeth's
able hands. He did not, indeed, feel auy
humiliation at the idea of trying to borrow
the cash, for his nature was not finely
strung, and money troubles had made him
callous to the verge of unscrupulousness:
but he did not like the idea of journey to
London, where he had not been for more
than 20 years, and the expenditure that
it entailed. Still he acted as Elizabeth
babe him, even to keeping the expedition
secret from Beatrice. Beatrice, as her sis
ter explained to him, was proud as Luci er
and might raise objections if she knew that
he was going to London to borrow money of