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


set. Sould he run down 10 Bryngellv'
The temptation was very great; tha
would be happiness indeed, but his COM
mon sense prevailed against it. No, i
was better that he should not go there. HI
would leave Bryngelly alone. 1t Beatrice
| wished him to come she would have said So
| and she had never even limited at such
| thing. and if she had he did not think thai
| he would have gone, But he lacked THE
heart to go anywhere else. He would stoI
in town, rest, and read a novel, for Geoffrey
when he found time, was not above this
frivolous occupation. Possibly, under Ger
tain circumstances, he might even have beer
capable of writing one. At that moment hi:
clerk entered, ard handed him a slip o.
paper with something written on it. He
opened it idly and read:
REV. Mr.. Granger to see you. Told him
you were engaged, but he said he would
wait"
Geofrey started violently, SO violently
that both the solicitor and the obstinate
farmer looked up.
Tell the gentleman I will see him in a
minute" he said to the retreating clerk, and
then, addressing the farmer, well, sir, L
have to say all that have to say. 1 cannot
advise YOU to continue this action. Indeed,
il you wish to do SO, you must really direct
your solicitor to retain some other counsel,
as will not be party to what can only
mean waste of money. Good afternoon"
and he rose.
The farmer was conveyed out grumbling.
In another moment Mr.. Granger entered,
dressed in somewhat threadbare suit of
black, and his thin white hair hanging as
usual over his eyes. Geoffrey glanced at him
with apprehension, and as he did so noticed
that he had aged greatly during the last
seven months. Had he come to tell him
some i'll news of Beatrice-that she was i'll,
or dead, or going to be married?
"How do you do. Mr. Granger" he
said, as he stretched out his hand, and con-
trolling his voice as we'll as he could. "How
ere you? This is most unexpected pleas
ure"
"How do you do Mr.. Bingham?" an
swered the old man, while he seated himself
nervously in the chair, placing his hat with
a trembling maud upon the floor beside him.
''Yes, thank you, am pretty well, not very
grand-worn out with trouble as the sparks
fly upward" he added, with a vague auto
matte recollection of the scriptural quota
tion.
"I hope that Miss Elizabeth and Be-that
your daughters are well also, said Geofrey,
unable to restrain his anxiety.
Les, YES, Hdnh you blHGHdm
beth isn't very grand either; complains of
she always is bilious in the spring"
And Miss Beatrice 2"
ooh, think she's well-verv quiet. you
know, and little pale perhaps; but she is
always quiet-a strange woman, Beatrice,
Mr.. Bingham, very strange woman, quite
beyond me! do not understand her, and
don't try to. Not like other women at all;
takes no pleasure in things seemingly; curl
GUS, with her good looks-very curious. But
nobody understands Beatrice
Geoffrey breathed sigh of relief. "And
how are tithes being paid, Mr.. Granger?
Not very grandly, fear. I saw that scoun-
drel Jones died in prison"
Mr.. Granger woke up at once. Before he
had been talking almost at random; the SUBJ
ject of his daughters did not greatly inter-
money question. Nor was it very wonder
full; the poor, narrow-minded old man had
thought about money till he could scarcely
find room for anything else; indeed nothing
else really touched him closely. He broke
into a long story of his wrongs, and, drawing
a paper from his breast pocket, with shaking
finger pointed out to Geoffrey how that his
clerical income for the last six months had
been at the rate of only e40 a year, upon
which sum even a Welsh clergyman could
not consider himself passing rich. Geoffrey
listened and sympathized; then came a
pause.
"That's how we've been getting on at
Mr.. Bingham" Mr.. Granger
said pleasantly, Starving, pretty we'll
starving. It's only you who have been
same dockieaf, while you have become a
great man. If1t had not been for Beatrice's
behaved very well about the
salary, has Beatrice-I aIn sure don't un-
1erstand how the poor girl clothes herself on
what she keeps; l know that she had to go
without warm cloak this winter, because
she got a cough from tive should have |
oeen in the workhouse, and that's where we |
,hall be yet" and he rubbed the back of his |
Fithered hand across his eyes.
Geoffrey gasped. Beatrice with scarcely |
enough means to clothe herself-Beatrice |
,hivering and becoming ill from the want of |
. cloak while he lived in luxury! 1t made
lin sick to think of it. For moment he |
,ould say nothing.
81 have come here-I've come" went on |
he old man in broken voice, broken not |
10 much by shame at having to make the re- |
Iuest as from fear lest it should be refused, |
to ask you if you could lend me a little |
money. L don't know where to turn, 1 |
ion't indeed, or L would not do it. Mr. |
Bingham. have spent my last pound to
'et here. 1fy you could lend me e10O, I'd |
1--WE you my note of hand for it, and try to
'ay it back little by little; we might take |
go year from Beatrice's salary"
"Don't pIease-do not talk of such a
hing" calculated the Mortified Geoffrev.
Where the devil is my cheque book? Oh,
know, left it in Bolton street. Here. |
his will do as we'll" and he took up a draft
made out to his order, and, rapidly signing
lis name on the back of it, handed it to Mr..
iranger. 1t was in payment of the fees in
be great case of Parsons and Douse and
ONE other matters. Mr.. Granger took the
raft and, holding it close to his eyes,
lanced at the amount; it was e200.
"But this is double what asked for" he
aid doubtiully. Gam I to return Won
,1OO?"
mo, no, answered Geofrey. SCI daresay
hat you have some debts to pay. Thank
feaven, 1 can get on very we'll and earn
lore money than L want. Not enough
Iothing-it is shocking to think of r' he
dded, more to himself shan to his listener.
The ole man rose, his eyes full of tears,
God bless you" he said, God bless vou
do not know how to thank you-I don't.
,deed." and he caught Geofrey's hand be-
veen his trembling palms and pressed it.
"Please do not say any more, Mr.. Gran
er; it really is only a matter of mutual obli-
alton. No, no. 1 don't want any note of
and. If 1 were to die It might be used
yainst you. You can pay me whenever it
convenient"
You are too good, Mr.. Bingham" said /
lie old clergyman. "Where could another
an be found who would lend me e2o0
lthout security?" (where, indeed?) "By
lie way" be added. ''I forgot; my mind is
such whirl. Will you come back with
e for few days to BryngeIly? We shall
Il be so pleased if you can. Do come, Mr..