Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-08-17


lrst OF his relatives to meet them. Sh
might form anv opinion she chose; he wa
: Indifferent. Nay, he would stand by then
} on every point; and Justify them; and def
criticism. If he had dared he would hav
gone to Maisrie and said: my aunt
coming to dinner tonight; but I will no
allow you to submit yourself to any ordea
} of inspection. You shall dress as you like
as carelessly or as neatly as you like; yol
shall wear your hair hanging down you
back or braided up, without any thought o
J her; you shall be as silent as you wish
and leave her, if she chooses, to call vol
else?' And he would have gonI
to the old man and said
Talk as much and as long as ever you
have mind; you cannot babble o. greer
helds too discursively for me; L at al
events, am sufficiently interested In youl
claims OF proud lineage, in your enthusiasm
about Scotland and Scottish song, in youl
"reminiscences OF many lands. Be as self
complscent and pompous as you please; feal
nothing; fear criticism least of all. And
perhaps, in like manner, he would have ad-
dressed Mrs. Ellison herself: "My dear
aunt, it is not they who are on trial, it is
you. 1t is you who have TO show whether
you have the courage of honest judgment,
or are the mere slave. of social customs and
forms For perhaps he. too, had imbibed a
little Of the 'Stand Fast Craig RoystonP'
splrltY Bravado may be catching-es-
peclaliy where an innocent and interesting
young creature of Is or so is in danger oil
being exposed to some deadly approach.
OF course this carelessly defiant attitude
did not prevent his being secretly pleased
when. as o'clock drew near, he perceived
that Maisrie Bethune had arrayed herself
1 in n1, IL =
| slve, costume; and also he was in no wise
chagrined to find that Mrs Ellison, on her
arrival, appeared to be in a very amiable
mood. There was no need to ask her, 80
| come We in peace here, or come ye In WARP"
her manner was most bland; in particular
she was adroitly hattering and fascinating
toward old George Bethune, who accepted
| these little attentions from the charming
widow with grave and consequential dig
nifty. The young host refused to sit at the
head of the table; he had the places ar
ranged two and two-Mrs. Ellison, of course,
as the greater stranger and the elder woman,
During the general dinner talk, which was
| the dresses, Mrs. Ellison casually informed
her nephew that she had that afternoon won
two bets, asd also discovered that she and
Lord Musselburgh were to meet at the same
house in Scotland the coming autumn; per-
haps this was the explanation of her ex-
treme and obvious good humor.
And if any deep and sinister design un-
derlay this excessive amiability on her part
it was successfully concealed; meantime all
was pleasantness and peace; and the old gen.
tleman, encouraged by her artless conf
dences, spoke more freely and frankly about
the circumstances of himself and his grand
daughter than was his won't
II see some Of the papers are indignant
about what they call the vulgar display of
wealth at Henley regatta" the young
widow was saying, in q very unconcerned
and easy fashion; 'but wish those gentle
men would remember that there is such
thing as imputation of motives, and that
imputing motives is a common resource of
envy. If have houseboat and try to
make it as pretty as ever I can, both inside
and out, why should that be considered dis
play of wealth-display of any sort?
like nice things and comfortable things
around me; don't mind confessing it, am
a selfish woman"
'There are some who know better, aunt"
her nephew interposed.
young gentleman, said she, promptly,
your evidence isn't worth anything, for
you have expectstions. And am not to be
hattered. I admit that / am a selfish and
comfort-loving woman; and like to see
pretty things around me, and an abundance
of them; and if can only have these at the
cost of being charged with ostentation and
display, very well, I will pay the price. If
it comes to that I never saw anything beau
tiful or desirable in poverty. Poverty is
not beautiful; never was, never is. never
will be beautiful; it is base and squalid and |
sordid; it demeans mems minds, and stunts |
their bodies dare say poverty is an ex-
cellent discipllne-for the rich if they would |
only submit to a six months dose of it now |
and again; but it is not discipline at all |
for the poor; it is curse; it is the most cruel
and baleful thing in the world, destroying |
self-respect, destroying hope, ambition, |
everything. Oh, know the heresy I'm |
talking. There's Master Wins papa; he is |
never done preaching the divine attributes
of poverty; and have no doubt there are a |
good many others who would be content to |
fall down and worship la bonne deesse de la |
pauvrete-on e30, 900 year.
Master Vim sniggered; he was aware that |
this was not the only direction in which the
principles and practice of the philosopher Of |
Grosvenor Place were somewhat inconsist-
ent. However, it was old George Bethune
who now spoke-as one having experience.
II can conceive Of nothing more demoraliz-
ing to the nature of man or woman than
harsh and hopeless poverty, a slavery from
which there is no prospect of escape. Ny
and have known what it is
to be poor; we know it now; but in our case
every day brings possibilities-we breathe
wider air, knowing that at any moment /
news may come. Then fancy plays her part;
and imagination can brighten the next day
for us, if the present be dark enough. Hope
less poverty-that is the terrible thing; the
weary toll leading to nothing; perhaps the
wretch sinking deeper and
deeper into the Slough of Despond. Maisrie
and I have met with trials; but we have
borne them with a stout heart; and perhaps
we have been cheered-at least know
have been-by some distant prospect of the
bonnie milI-dams o. Balloray, and a hap
pier future for us BOTH
"Balloray?" she repeated, inquiringly.
Balloray, in Fife. Perhaps you have
never heard of the Balloray law suit, and
will not inf1ict any history of it upon you
at present." he continued, with lofty COM
plaisance. II was merely saying that
poverty is not SO hard to bear when there
are brighter possibilities always before you.
II, in our case, we are barred in law by the
statute of Limitations. there is no statute
Of Limitations in the chapter of accidents
And some remarkable instances have oc-
CURED. I remmember one in which
father, two sons and daughter were all
drowned at once by the sinking of ship,
Ind the property went bodily over to the
younger branch of the family, who had been
oenniless for years. It is the unexpected
hat happens, according to the saying; and
10 we move from day to day toward fresh
and who can tell what morning
nay not bring us q summons to make