Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-11-23

he had any, and you wanted it. it would
be yours"
81 know that" said Vincent, eagerly;
and he told the story of their meeting the
poor woman in Hyde Park.
'Take that string of charges you spoke
Of" the banker resumed. "I have not the
least doubt that from that point of view of
the people who discovered those things their
story was quite accurate. Except, perhaps,
about his calling himself Lord Bethune: 1
DOM believe that and never heard of it;
thas was more likely a bit of toadyism on
the part of some oar loungers. But, as I
say. from a solicitors pbint of view, George
Bethune would no doubt be regarded as
habitual impostor; whereas to himself he is
no impostor at all, but perfectly honorable
person, whose every act can challenge the
light of day. If there is any wrong or in
jury in the relations between him and the
world, be sure he considers himself the
wronged and injured one: though you must
admit he does not complain. The question
is-does Margaret see? Or has he brought
her up in that world of fimagination-care-
less of the real facts of life-persuading
yourself of anything you wish to believe
thinking little of rent or butchers bills so
long as you can escape into the merry
green wood and live with Burd Helens and
May Colleans and the like? You see, when
l knew her she was little more than q child;
it would never occur to her to question the
conduct of her grandfa ther; but now you
say she is a woman-she may have begun to
look at things tor herself"
Mr.. Thompson paused, and eyed his COM
panion curiously. For curious expression
had come into Vincent's face.
"What then?" said the banker.
81 am beginning to understand" the
young man said, "and-and-perhaps here
is the reason of Maisrie's going away. Sup
pose she imagined that l suspected her
grandiather-suppose she thought I con-
sidered those reports true; then she might
take that as personal insult; she might be
too proud to offer any defense; she would go
to her grandfather and say, grandfather,
if this is what he and his friends think OF
us, it is time we should take definite steps
to end this companionship. It has been all
my doing, then, since I was so blind?'"
Vincent continued, evidently in deep ais
tress. Il don't wonder that she was offended
and insulted-and-and she would be too
proud too explain. have all along had a
Kind of notion that she had something to do.
perhaps everything to do, with their going
away. And yeti"
He was silent. Mr.. Thompson waited for
a second or two, not wishing to interrupt;
then he.said:
vi COuESe you KNOW 0er DeILer LnaQ
do; but that is not how I should read the
situation. 1t is far more probable that her
own eyes have been gradually opened-not
to what her grandfather is, but to what he
may appear to be in the eyes of the world;
and when she has come more and more to
perceive the little likelihood of his being
considerably judged she may have de-
termined that you should be set free from
all association with him and with her. 1
think that is far more likely in view of the
things you have told me. And L can i'm
agine her doing that a resolute young
creature; ready to sacrifice herself; used to
wandering too--her first solution of any DIFF
ficulty would be to go away A touch of
pride, perhaps, as well. 1 dare say she has
discovered that if you look at George
Bethune through blue spectacles, his way OF
life must look rather questionable; but if
you look at him through pink spectacles,
everything is pleasant and fine, and even
grand. But would she ask anyone to put
Oh pink spectacles? No; for she has the
stiff neck of the Bethunes. 1 imagine she
can hold her head as high as any one, now
she is grown up. And of course she will
not ask for generous Interpretation; she will
rather go away"
Vincent was still silent; but at length he
said-as if speaking to himself
II wonder what Maisrie must have
thought of me-"
He had evidently been going over all
that had happened in those bygone days
by the light of this new knowledge.
"What do you meah?" the banker said.
"Why, ii there were any generous inter-