Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-08-10

| gather that Maisrie's father had been Q
| railway engineer; that he had married .
young Scotch lady in Baltimore before going
| out West; that Maisrie had been born in
Omaha; that shortly thereafter her mother
died; then came the collapse of certain spec
ulations her father had been led into, 50 that
the widower, broken in heart and fortune,
soon followed his young wife, leaving their
child to the care of her only surviving rela-
tive. Whether there were some remains Of
the shattered fortune, or whether friends
| subscribed to make up a small fund for
them, it appeared that the old man and his
granddaughter were not quite pennilessj for
he took credit to himself that he had spent
nearly all their little income, arising from
this unspeci6ed source, on Maisrie's educa-
ton.
81 wish to have her fitted for any sphere
to which she might be called, he went on,
in musing kind of way. "And I hope I
have succeeded. She has had the best mas
ters I could afford; and something Of her
teaching I have taken upon myself. But,
after all, that is not of the greatest import
ance. She has seen the world-far more
than most of her years; and she has not been
spoiled by the contact could have wished
her, perhaps, to have had more of the COM
psnionship of her own sex: but that was not
often practicable in our wandering life.
However, she has intuitive sympathy that
stands for much: and if in society-which il
not much in our way-she might show her.
self shy and reserved, well, Ifor one, should
not complain: that seems to me more to be
coveted than confidence and self-assertion.
As for outward manner she has never
wanted any school mistresses besides her
natural tact and her own refinement of feel
ing; she is gentlewoman at heart; rudeness,
coarseness, presumption would be impossible
to her"
"The merest stranger can see that" Vim
cent ventured to say, in rather low voice.
"And thus so far we have come through
the world together" the old man continued,
in the same meditative mood. what I
have done have done for the best Per-
haps may have erred; what could I tell
about the uprearing of young girl7 And
it may be that what she is now she il in
spite Of what 1 have done for her and with
her-who knows such mysteries? As for the
future, perhaps it is better not to look to it
She is alone; she is sensitive; the world IL
hard"
"I know many who would like to be her
friends" the young man said, breathlsssly.
''Sometimes," old George Bethune con-
tinued, slowly and thoughtfully, 81 wonder
whether have done my best. may have
built on false hopes-and taught her to d,
bAS sc yOhhS "OASu DChbS
equipped for the battle of the world, if it il
to come to that. Perhaps have been self
ish, too; perhaps have avoided looking to
the time when she and must, in the natu-
raj. course of things be separated. We have
been always together-as one, might say;
the same sunlight has shone on us, we have
met the same storms, and not much caring,
so long as we were one with the other. But
then-the years that can be granted me now
are but few; and she has no kinsman to
whom she can 60, even to CLEAN in the
fields and ask tor pitcher Of water. And
when 1 think of her-alone-among stran-
gers-my Maisrie-"
His voice choked-hut only for amoment.
He suddenly sprang TO his feet and flung
his arms in tine air as if he would free him.
self from this intolerable burden Of despon-
dency and doubt
''Why," said he, in accents of scornful
impatience, "have I gone mad, or what
pestilent thing is thisl Sursum cordial We
have faced the world together. she :and ],