Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-10-19

a scheming impostor and swindler-it is too
absurd To nv mind-and think know
him pretty intimatelY-he appears to be one
of the finest and grandest characters it is
possible to imagine; q personality you could
never forget, once you had learned TO know
him even little, and thatthis man, of all men,
should be suspected of being fawning and
wheedling writer of begging letters-it is too
laughable! / admit that he has little or no
money-if that is a crime. They live in
straitened circumstances, no doubt. And
of course there are many unpleasant things
connected with poverty that one would
rather hide from the eyes of young lady,
and that can't we'll be hidden: though 1
don't know that her nature, if she has q fine
and noble nature, need suffer from that.
For example, it isn't nice ior her to see her
grandfather served with a writ; but many
excellent people have been served with
writs; it doesn't follow that Mr.. Bethune
must be thief because he has no money
or perhaps because he has been negligent
about some debt or other. But even sup
posing that he was questionable person
even supposing that he was in the habit of
using doubtful means to supplement his
precarious income; isn't that all the greater
reason why such a girl should be taken
away from such circumstances?'
Lord Musselburgh did not reply to this
question. He had heard from Mrs. Ellison
that the granddaughter was suspected, or
more than suspected of being an accomplice;
and although, of course, he could not in the
least say whether there was any truth in this
allegation, he deemed it wiser to hold his
tongue.
"Now you may put all that aside" Vim
cent went on. "That is all rubbish and
trash-a pack of old wives stories. And
- 1hr7rrr &c IN
me your honest opinion on certain point.
ask for your advice. 1 want you to tell
me what you think would happen in a pos
sible case. And the main question is this ::
assuming that 1 could persuade Miss
Bethune to marry me at once, and assuming
also that her grandfather approved-when
the marriage had actually taken place. what
would my relatives say? Or rather, that is
not the question; the question is what they
would do. 1 know what they would
say. They would be wild enough.
Their heads are full of these foolish
fdncies and suspicious; and beside that l
gather that they want me to marry some
noble damsel whose family would have
political influence. Yes, they would be
wild enough, no doubt; but when they found
the thing actually settled, what would they
do? Would NV father make deadly quar-
rel of it and cut me off with a shilling, like
something out of a play: or would he exer-
else a little common sense, and make the
best Of it. now the thing was done?"
Really" said Lord Musselburgh, who
seemed more concerned than one might have
expected from his halfcynicsl, haIi-careless
temperament, ''you ask me what 1 can't an
swer. And giving advice is a perilous busi-
ness. All l can say is this, Vin-you seem
TO me to have got into devilish awkward
position, and 1 wish to goodness you were
out Of il.
"You think regret anything that has
happened?'' Vincent said. mot II would
not go back-not for all the world. But as
for this monetary difficulty. there it is; and
it has TO be faced. You see, have been
brought up to do nothing; and consequently
I am in a measure dependent on my father.
Nv own little income doesn't amount to
much. Then again, if 1 were to marry
Maisrie Bethune, 1 should have to leave her
grandfather whatever small fund they have
i don't quite understand about it-any-
how, 1 couldn't take that away, for 1
imagine the old gentleman's earnings from
newspaper work are not very substantial or
regular. Now what do you think my father
would do?''
Wouldn't it be the simplest thing to go
and ask him-to go and ask him now?"
said Lord Musselburgh, who clearly did not
wish to assume any responsibility in this
serious matter.
81 can tell myself what he would say
nov" Vincent made answer; "the question
is what he would say then"
After the marriage?"
Yes
His companion across the little table
hesitated for second or two.
You see, Vim, it isl't only in plays that
F.s1 s1,,arc ta1,
times happens in real life; and occasionally
they get very angry indeed. According to
your own showing, ii your father refuses to
acknowledge this marriage-if he declares
he would have nothing lurther to do with
vou-you would find yourself in rather
desperate straits. Why should you, with
your eyes open, walk into any such straits2
You know what may happen. And then
with young wlie-with next to no re-
-sources-what would you do? Let us come
TO one definite and immediate thing, that 1
nope is not far off now; who would pay your
election expenses at Mendover?"
you yourself, Musselburgh, in the in
terests OF the party"
Il am glad you can make a jest of the
situation, Win"
mo, really, 1 don't,' Vincent said, m ore
seriously. but ii 1 were to ask for nv
fathers consent L should rot get it'll know
that quite well, and meanwhile the girl is
supposed to be--oh, need not name the
thing! You don't understand! She is nv
dearest in all the world; how can stand by
and allow these base accusations to be
brought against her, without protest? And
that would be my protestl That would show
them what thought of their mean suspi-
cions and their preposterous charges"
"And thereafter" said Lord Mussel-
burgh.''
Thereafter? Well, as 1 say, nv father
might show some common sense and accept
the thing, seeing il was done. can tell you
IL isn't very pleasant to find myself so de-
pendent on anY other human beings reason
ableness. 1 haven't been used to it. l dare
say have been spoiled-things made too
easy for me. And now when l louk around
and wonder what 1 could do, suppose 1
am simply in the position of a thousand
others, who haven't had any special train
ing. The few articles have written have
paid me well enough; but at present don't
see anything substantial and permanent in
that direction. If you were in office 1
should ask you for a private secretary
ship"
why not ask someone who is in ofice?''
81 could not change my coat quite so
quickly as that
"Ah, you haven't had much experience in
practical politics" Lord Musselburgh OBJ
served. "Well, now, Vim, look here; it
mendous catastrophe. You have asked for
my advice; / will give it you frankly. For
goodness sake, don't marry that girl. She
may be everything you say; her grandfather |
may be everything you say; but don't do |
ANYTHING rash-don't do anvthino irrevoc-