Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-07-27

secretary. Pretty hard work, of course; but
the modern young man, in politics, is sup
posed to be thoroughly in earnest; if he ism t.
| be will have to reckon with the evening pa
pers, for they don't like to be trifled with. u
The subject was not a grateful one, appar-
emily; Vim Harris changed it.
"Do YOU remember" he said, with some
| little difidence, "that-that / was in your
house some few weeks ago when an old gen.
tleman called-and-and his granddaugh.
ter?"
1.-THE perfervid old Scotchman-oh, yes p'
"How did you come to know him 2" the
young man asked, with downcast ewes.
81 hardly remember. Let me see. Oh,
yes. be wrote to me, enclosing a note OF in
PRODUCTION he had brought from friend OF
mine in New York-a brother Scot Then
he called and told me something further
about book be is going to bring out; and /
gave him some little assistance-I don't
think he is above accepting a few sovereigns
from any one to help him on his way through
the world"
Vim Harris flushed hotlv-and he raised
his head and looked his friend straight in
the face as he put the next question.
"But-but he is gentleman Ibis name
his family-even his bearing-''
selburgh said, lightly. "Poor old fellow. 1
was glad to lend him a helping hand. I
think his enthusiasm, his patriotism, was
genuine; and it is thing you don't often
meet with nowadays"
"Yes-but-but-"Vi Harris said. with
a good deal of embarrassment, and vet with
some touch OF hali-indignant remembrance.
"the money you gave him-that was to
aid him in bringing out the book, ,wasn't t it?"
Certainly, certainly r. the other said
he did not happen to notice the expression
on his friends face. Something about
Scotland-Scotch poetry-I think when he
wrote he said something about dedication,
but that is an honor and glory 1 hardly
covet"
''In any case," observed the Young man.
''you have no right to say he would accept
money from-from anyone-from a stran-
ger"
Then Lord Musselburgh did look up
struck by something in his companions
tone.
did say that7 I'm sure don't know.
OF course it was on account OF the book that
l ventured to give him some little help
oh, yes, certainly-I should not have ven.
tured otherwise. If he had been offended,
1 dare say he would have said so; but
fancy the old gentleman has had to over
come his pride before now. He seems to
have led a curious, wandering life Bv the
way, Vim, weren't you very much impressed
by the young LADY, -Iremember your saying
something"
Fortunately there was no need for Vincent
to answer this question, for now there be-
gan another movement on the part OF the re-
naming guests to go up stairs to the draw
ing room, and in this little bit of hustle he
no fr0n n IF N
When at the end of the evening all the
people had gone away, and when Mr.. Har-
ris had shut himself up in his study to
finish his correspondence-for he was going
down the next morning to a congress of CO.
operative societies at Ipswich-Mrs. Ellison
and her nephew found themselves alone in
the drawing room; ;and the air young widow
mus needs return to the subject she had been
discoursIng upon at dinner-namely, that
this young man, in order to guard against
pitfalls and embroilments, should get mar
ried forthwith.
"You seem anxious that should marry"
said be, bluntly; why don't you get mar
ried yourself 2"
"Oh, no, thank you P' she replied, with
prompltude. 81 know when l have had"
Apparently she was on the point of saying
that she knew when she had had enough;
but that would not have been compliment
tary to the memory of the deceased; so she
broke off.
"Do you know, aunt" be observed,
gravely, "what Mr.. Ogden saws of YOU?
He says that, having robbed Peter, you try
to salve your conscience by throwing crust
''When did rob Peter?-what Peter?"
she said, Indignantly.
You are oapitalist-you have more
than your own share-you possess what you
do not work for-therefore, you are a rob-
aunt; but Mr.. Ogden has pronounced your
doom"
"Mr. Ogden -!'' she said, with angry
brows-and then she stopped.
eyes, aunt?" he said, encouragingly.
"Oh, nothing. But tell you this, Vim.
You were talking of the proper distribution |
OF wealth. Well, when you come to marry,
and if approve of the girl, / mean to dis |
tribute little of my plunder-of my ill !
gotten gains-in that direction; she shan't |
come empty-handed. That is, if approve |
OF her, you understand. And the best thing |
you could do would be to alter your mind |
mind and come down to Brighton for a week |
or two; and l'll send for the Drexel girls,
and perhaps one or two more. If you can't
Just at present, you may later on. Now I'm
going of to my room; and 1 will say good
bye as well as good night, for i don't sup
pose shall see you in the morning."
GOOD night, then, and goodbye, auntr'
said he as he held her hand for a second;
and that was the last that he saw of her for
some considerable time.
For great change was about to take
place in this young mans position and cir
In his interests, ambitions,
and trembling hopes. He was about TO
enter wonderland-that so many have
stealthily and almost fearing-that
20 many remember, and perhaps would fain
orget. Do any remain in that mystic and
region? Some, at least. have
never even approached it; for its portals are
not easily discoverable, are not diseoverable
1T all, indeed, except by the twin torches of
imagination and abolition OF self.
When he went up to his chambers the
lext morning he was surprised to find
,grd living on the table; he had not expected
visitor in this secluded retreat. And when
he glanced at the name, he was still more
What an opportunity he had
nissedl Perhaps Mr.. Bethune had brought
in informal little invitation for him-the
irst overture Of frieIdliness. He might
lave spent the evening in the hushed, small
oarlor over the way, with those violin
trains vibrating through the dusk; or,
With the lights ablaze, he might have sat
md listened to the old mans tales of trav-
is, while Maisrie-he now knew her name
vas Maisrie-Maisrie Bethune would be
lifting at her needle-work, but looking up
rom time to time-each glance a worlds
vonderl And what had he had in exchange?
"a vapid dinner party; some talk about
ocialism; an invitation that he should de-
cend into the catacombs of North of En-
land politics and labor mole-llke there to no