Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-10-26

omprehension-except, perhaps, so me
further local popularity; and why should
Scotch peer desire to be thought we'll of by
a lot. of English chawbacous and small shop
keepers? L can hardly suppose that he
made such promise in order to secure your
election; that, indeed, would be wild freak OF
generosity-so wild as to be incredible.
| However" continued Mr.. Harris, In his
pendantic and sententous manner, ut is
unnecessary to seek for motives. we DO
not need to be indebted TO him. L consider
that it is of the greatest importance that you
should enter Parliament at an early age;
and L am willing TO pay. Mendover ought
to be a secure seat, if it. is kept warm.
Promise them what you like-l Will see to
| the rest. There are other things besides
park, if they pre- er TO keep Lord Mussel-
burgh to his promise; free library TOR ex-
ample-if they have one already, another
one; clubhouse for the football club-a
pavilion Tor the cricketers-a reireshment
tent for the tennis ground-a band to play
on the summer evenings numoer OF
thing of that kind that YOU could discover
from your friend the solicitor"
Vincent could have laughed had he
dared. Here he was invited to play the
part of great local magnate, plutocrat and
benefactor; and it was less than half an
hour ago that he had been anxiously won-
dering whether 9200 year or ESQ year
would be the probable salary of Mr.. Ogden's
private secretary. Harland Harris went
on:
'It is so rarely that such an opportunity
occurs-in England at least-that one must
not be niggardly in welcoming it. Simmons
did YOU say SimmonS?-is clearly of i'm
portance; if you make him your agent In
these negotiations that will be enough ior
him-he will look after himself. And he
will keep you safe; the elected member may
cheat horse, whereas as q candidate he
daren't look over the hedge. And once you
are embarked on a career of public useful
ness s-
Bribery, do you mean?" said Vincent,
meekly.
81 refer to the House OF Commons; once
you have your career open TO you, you Will
be able to show whether the training you
have undergone has been the right one, or
whether the ordinary scholastic methods
mixed up with monkish traditions-Tould
have been preferable. At all events you
have seen the world. You have seen men,
and their interests, and occupations. not
parcel of grown-up schoolbovs playing
games"
81 suppose" said Vincent. in musing
kind OF way, "if all this were to happen 1t
would be rather nice thing to become
member of Parliament. Though l don't
understand why that should be considered
the only serious interest of life. 1t seems
to me there are other interests of far greater
importance to any human being-affecting
him tar more nearly, and with far more re-
moter consequence"
Harland Harris glanced at his son quickly
and even nervously.
Yes, yes, said he, with certain hurried
impatience, THAT may be; We will not dis
cuss abstract propositions. What is of
practical and immediate concern is that now
you have got the opening into public life
for which every ambitious man must pine,
it is for yourself to show what you Will do
with the opportunity.
And therewithal he bade Vincent good
night. Nor did the young mau notice how
instantly and apprehensiveiy his father had
deprecated the Introduction and discussion
of certain subject. Not that Vincent
would have advanced from the region of
theory. He had no wish to bring forward
Maisrie once more-to have her character
and antecedents animadverted upon, either
by his ather or by any one else.
A day or two passed; he was still making
discreet inquiries as to how young man,
with some little knowledge of the world,
and a trifle of capital at his back, but with
no specific pro fessional training, could best
himself; and also he was sounding one or
two editors ior whom he had done some
casual work as to whether employment of
more permanent kind might be procurable.
Moreover, he had ordered the little brooch
for Maisrie-a tiny white dove this was, In
mOther-of-pearl, on 4 transVere narrow band
OF ru bes; aud besides that he had picked
up a few things with which to make her
room a little prettier, when she would re-
turn to town. Some OF the latter, indeed,
which weretfit for immediate installation, he
had already sent home; and one afternoon
he thought he might as we'll go up and see
what Mrs. Hobson had done with them.
1t was the landlady's husband who
opened the door; and even as, he ushered
the man up to the parlor, he had begun his
story, which was so breathless and discon-
nected and inclined to tears that Vincent in
stantly suspected gin.
'Lor bless We, sir, we ev bin in such a sad
quandary, to be sure, and right glad l am
to see you. sir, with them things 4 comm
'ome, and you was so particular about not a
word to be said, and there was the missis, a
angin of EN- up. and the beautiful counter
pane, all spread out so neat and tidy, why,
says she, the Queen on the throne she amt
got n0thin more splendid, which he is the
most generous young genelman, and jest as
good as he's ansome'-beggin' your pardon,
sir, for women will talk, and then in the
middle OF it hall, here comes the old genel-
man as we were not expecting of i'm, sir
an, sir, great man, a wonder!u man, sir,
in sorrowful circumstances, and the Young
lady, too, and hall to be settled up reglar-
oh, heverythink, sir-like genelman-"
"What the mischief are you talking
about" said Vincent, in his bewilderment.
"Do you mean to say that Mr.. Bethune and
Miss Bethune have been in London?"
Yesterday, sir, yesterday, more's the
pity. sir, to give up their rooms for good
and hail, Tor never again shall we 'ey sich
dodgers in this poor ouse."
'Look here" said Vincent, impatiently-
for this ri.marole threatened at any moment
to dissipate itself i'll maudling weeping,
will you answer me one question:: am l
TO understand that Mr.. Bethune and his
granddaughter are not coming back here?"
Indeed, no, sir, more's the pity, sir, it
was a honor to this poor ouse, and heverv-
think paid mp like genelman, though
many's the time L sayin to the missis
as she needn't be so ard -
"S>>ere nave they gone, then?" the
younger man demanded Deremptorily.
'Lor bless We, sir, 1T took me all OF a sud-
den-they didn't say nothin about that, sir
and l was upset, sir" .,
Vincent glanced at his watch; 4:O5 was
the time.
'"Oh, see, !" he said, with fine careless
ness (for there were wild and alarming sus-
picious darting through his braiu9
They're going TO remain in Brighton, l
dare say. Well, good-by, Hobsonl About
those bits of things 1 sent up-you keep
them for yourself-teIl Mrs. Hobson make
her present OF them-you needn't say any
thinr ahont tbon, IN o,,hoj,,