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

not 10 any tlmOrOuS, Vaclllhtlng
it was her hands he ought to have taken and
held, that he might read the future in hei
true eyes. And so, with some brief words
of apology and thanks he lett Lord Mussel-
bureh, and made his way into the outer air
this was to breathe more freely-this was to
have the natural courage of youth mount
ing into the brain.
He walked away along the Kings road
and unconsciously to himself he held his
head erect, as if in imitation OF the stout
hearted old man who, despite his three
score years and ten, could still bear himself
SO bravely in face of all the world. More
over there were some lines in one of Mais-
rie's songs haunting him; but not in any sad
way; nav, he found himself dwelling on the
RS, as if to recall her soft pronunciation:
Ellie fit un' rencontre
De trente matelots.
DE trente matelots
Sur lie bord de I lie.
LIE plus jeune des trente,
III Sc NIT a chanter.
ii Sc NIT chanter
Sur lie bord de L lie.
La chanson que tu chantes,
Je voudrais Ia savor.
Je voudrais Ia savoir
Sur lie bord de L lie.
Embarque dams ma barque,
Je te la chanterai.
Je te la chanterai
Sur lie bord de lie.
He had thrust aside those coward counsels,
out here was the sunlight and the fresh
blowing wind; would it not be a wonderful
thing if be could persuade Malsrie, ere she
came forth for her morning walk to shake
loose her glorious, long-fowing, abundant
tresses, so that in shifting light and shadow
the ashen brown might here and there turn
to gold? This was the kind of morning to
bring touch of crimson to the transparent
pallor of her cheek; her teeth would glisten
freer, more buoyapt, than ever. Sursum
corda! Nay, he could have found it in his
heart to adopt the proud-standing "Stand
Fast, Craig -RoystonI'-if only to fling it
back in the face of those who had brought
those monstrous accusations.
His long and swinging stride soon car
ried him to the house in German place,
where he found George Bethune and his
granddaughter just making ready to come
out; and the moment he caugh. sight of
her he instinctively knew how impossible it
was for him to prefer his audacious request
about her hair. Even if she were so ex-
traordinarily complaisant as to comply with
his wish-if she were to. 60 and loosen
those long tresses, and return with flushed
face and downcast eyes-there might be Tor
him sudden thrill of admiration and en-
trancement; but how could he ask her to go
out so, to meet the common gaze? Why
should all this secret treasure of beauty be
blazoned abroad? 1t was revelation-to
which the public had no right to be ad-
mitted. What had they to do with the
VARYING sheen of Maisrie Bethune's hair?
Perhaps, as she passed, they would see in
her only a young girl-a schoolgirl; but he
knew she was something more. And in
deed on this morning there was an unusual
reserve in her manner; she rather avoided
his look; he thought no more of that mad
project.
''This will not do, Maisrie," said old
George Bethune. in his gay, emphatic fash
ion. "Too much idleness. Too much idle
ness. Fresh air is all very well, but we
must not become its slaves. Remember
Horace's warning, "Tu, nisi Uentis debes
ludjbriuDl, caUe."
"Why, who could keen at work on a
morning like thisl' Vim Harris protested.
"a west wind and brilliant sunlight are not
so common in December. 1t makes it hard
for me that I've to 90 away tomorrow"
"Are you going away tomorrow, Vim
cent?" said Maisrie, regarding him.
eyes," said he. 81 have to GO down to
Mendover on Thursday, to deliver a sort of
address, lecture-and I've only got the
heads and divisions sketched out as yet. 1
wish could escape it altogether; but dare
not play any tricks at present; Pm on my
best behavior. And this time, at least,
don't mean to drag Lord Musseiburgh down
with me; I'm going it alone"
"And after that you return to London7"
she asked.
He hardly knew what to say. A single
word of encouragement from either of them,
and he would at once and gladly have prom
ised to come back to Brighton at the earliest
possible moment; but he had not forgotten
the implied understanding on which
Maisrie and her grandfather had come away
from their lodgings in Mayfair.
eyes. to London" he replied vaguely
"But have no definite plans at present.
dare say my aunt, Mrs. Ellison, will want
me to come down here at Christmas"
After pretty long walk along the cliffs
they returned to the town (on the Parade
they met Sherry, who cheerfully informed
them that he was on the point of starting for
Monte Carlo, and hoped they would wish
him good Iuck) and Vincent was easily
persuaded by Maisrie to share their modest
luncheon with them. Thereafter, when
tobacco was produced, she begged to be ex-
cused for a little while, as she had some
sewing to do in her own room; and thus it
was that Vim Harris, quite suddenly and
unexpectedly, found himself presented with
an opportunity OF approaching the old man
on the all-important theme. But on this
occasion he was much more precise and
urgent in his prayer; for he had thought
the whole matter clearly out, through many
an anxious and sleepless hour; and his plans
lay fixed and definite before him.
"You may remember, sir" he said to old
George Bethune, "when spoke to you be-
fore was not sure of Maisrie's ceilings to-
ward me. 1 might have been mistaken;
and as you seemed TO wish there should be
no engagement, 1 was content to wait. But
now 1 cannot believe am mistaken; and it
is for her sake as well as my own that
want some actual bond between us. Who
can say what might happen, at anv mo
ment? 1 should like to know that had
the right to take charge of her, II there were
any need; should like to know that in case
of trouble or misfortune Detailing her. she
would naturally turn to me. You yourself
have often limited that your future move
ments were uncertain-you might have to
go away-and-and then don't say that
either Maisrie or 1 would forget-only 1 am
afraid of absence. There appear to be GER
tain people who don't wish you we'll; there
might be more stories; who can tell what
might not happen? Indeed" SAID he. re-
garding the old man a little anxiouslv, CT
have been thinking that-that if Maisrie
would consent-our getting married at once
would be the safest and surest tie of all. L