Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-07-06

but 1 am no longer a child can see how
we are situated-and-if it is pride that
causes me to speak, remember who it is that
has taught me to think of our name.
Grand father, let US begin new lifel can
work. am old enough to wolk-l would
slave nv fingers to the bone for you'll Grand
father, why should you accept assistance
from any one?-from Lord Musselburgh or
any one? No. do not blame you-l have
always thought that teverytbing you did was
right-and Kind and good; but I cannot be
think and feel. Grandfather-"
But here the incoherent appeal broke
down; she fell on her knees before him and
clasped her hands over her face; and in the
dark the old man-stern and immovable-
could hear tbe sound of her violent sobbing.
81 will work-oh, will work night and
day, grandfather" she continued, wildly,
''if only you take my meney and not from
any one elsel will go on the stage-1 will
turn dressmaker-I will 60 anywhere or do
anything-and work hard and hard-lf only
you will consentl There would not be so
much sacrifice, grandfather-a little, not
much-snd don't you think we should be
all the happier? 1 have spoken at last,
grandfsther-you will forgive mel could
not keep silent any longer. 1t has been
weighing on my heart-and now-now you
are going to say yes, grandiather-and to-
morrow-to-morrow we begin differently.
We are so much alone-let us live for each
other-let us be independent of every one!
Now you are going to say yes. grandfather
and indeed, indeed will work for both OF
US, on, so gladly"
"Have you finished?" he asked.
She rose, and would have seized his hand
to enforce her appeal, but be withdrew a
nd nad hor 10 ha fad
81 am glad of this opportunity" he said,
in formal and measured fashion. You
say you have become a woman; and it is
natural you should begin and think for
yourself; hitherto I have treated you as a
child, and you have obeyed and believed
implicitly. As for your immediate wish, I
may saw at once that is impossible. There
is no kind of work for which you are fitted
even if I were prepared to live on your
earnings, which I am not. The stagel |
What could you do on the stage? Do you |
think an actress is made at a moments |
notice? Or q dressmaker either? How |
could you turn dressmaker tomorrow |
because YOU can hem handkerchiets? And |
as for making use of your education, do you |
know of the thousands of girls whose |
French and Italian and music are as good |
as yours, and who can barely gain their |
food by teachlng?-"
He altered his tone; and spoke more |
proudly.
"But what say is this, that you do not |
understand, you have not yet understood, my |
position. When George Bethune conde- |
scends to accept assistance, as you call it, he |
receives no favor, he confers an honor. I |
know my rights, and stand on them; yes, |
and know my wrongs-and how trifing |
the compensations ever likely to be set |
Of ri
burgh; but Lord Musselburgh-a mush- |
room peer-the representative of a family |
dragged from nothingness by James VI |
Lord Musselburgh knew better than you
well he knew-that he was honoring him
sell in receiving into his house Bethune |
OF Balloray. And as for his granting me |
assistance, that was his privilege, his op-
portunity, his duty. Should not I have
done the like, and gladly, if our positions
had been reversed? Noblesse oblige. I
belong to his order-and to family older
BY centuries than his. If there was favor
con erred to-day at Musselbrough House, it
was net on my shoulders that 1t FELL"
He spoke haughtily, and yet without
anger; and there was ring of sincerity in |
his tones that could not be mistaken. The
girl sat silent and unabashed.
"No." said he, in the same proud fashion;
during all my troubles, and they have been
more numerous than you know or need ever
know, have never covered, or whimpered,
or sbased myself before any living being.
have held my head up. Ny conscience is
clear toward all men. Stand fast, Craig Roy
stouP it has been with me-and shall beI'
He went to the window and shut it.
Come, light the gas, Maisrie; and let US
talk about something use. What I say is
this, that il anyone, recognizing the in
justice that1 and mine have suffered, should
feel it due to himself, due to humanity, to
make some reparatien, whv, that is as be-
tween man and man-that ought to be con-
sidered his privilege; and take no shame.
ask for no compassion. The years that I
can hope for now must be few; but they
shall be as those that have gone before. 1
abase myself before no one. 1 hold nv
head erect. 1 look the world in the face;
and ask which of US has the greater cause
to complain of the other. Stand fast,
Craig g-Rsyston!-that has been my motto;
and so. thank God, it shall be the endI'
Maisrie lit the gas, and attended to her
other wants-in a mechanical
,ort of way. But she did not take up the
violin again. There was strangely absent
ook on the pale and beautiful and pensive
ace.
To be continued ne1t Sunddy.J