Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-12-21

Maisrie's eyes should turn lnstinctively to
Vinceut-as if to appeal for advice. or
course, his decision was taken on the In
slant.
"Ask Miss Bethune to step this way,
then," he said to the girl.
! Nfaisrie rose-pale a little, but absolutely
seI-possessed. She did not know who this
might bean enemy, an emissary, perhaps
the bearer of grave and harassing tidings
for her grandfather; for she had grown to
fear Balloray, and all its associations and
belongings. As it turned out she had not
much to fear from this emissary. There
came into tho room a tall and elegant lady
of about 80, not very pretty, but very gen.
tle-looking, with kind gray eyes. For
brief second she seemed embarrassed on
fuding a third person present; but that
passed directly; she went up to Malsrie,
and took her hand and held it, and said, in
voice so sweet and winning that it went
straight to the heart
CDR. LenHie has told me of your trouble.
I'm very, very sorry. Will you let me help
you in any way that is possible? May
send 10 Edinburgh for trained nurse to give
YOU assistance; and in the meantime, If you
wished 1t, could send along my maid to
do anything you wanted
Maisrie pressed her to be seated, and
tried, in rather uncertain accents, to thank
her for her exceeding kindness. For this
stranger, with the greatest tact, made no
apology for her intrusion; it was no case of
the castle coming to the cottage, with acts
of oficious benevolence; it was simply one
woman appealing to another to be allowed
to help her in dire straits. Whether she
knew that the old man upstairs claimed to
be the rightful owner of Balloray, whether
she knew that the beautiful, pensiye-eyed
girl who was speaking to her had indirectly
suff red through that legal decision OF gen.
erations ago, Vincent could not at the mo-
ment guess; what was obvious was merely
this womanIy act of sympathy and charity,
for which Maisrie BetEune showed herself
abundantly grateful. When the doctor
came down, the visitor with the friendly
eyes and the soft voice explained that, Just
in case the patient should need brandy
to keep up his strength, she had
| taken the liberty of bringing some
with her-of good quality; the
resources of the Balloray Arms
being limited in that respect. AS she said
this she hesitatingly blushed little; and
Vincent thought she looked really beauti-
| full. He recalled to himself his aunt, Lady
Musselburgh; and wondered whether she,
with all her fine presence and elegant eyes,
woman, who was rather plain.
| The doctors report was on the whole en-
couraging; the temperature OF the patient
was the least thing lower, and ne was more
equable in mind,
-"He appears to have been greatly pleased
| BY your visit, sir" the little doctor said, in
| q strong east-country accent to the young
man. every pleased, indeed. And it is
| Just wonderful how he can reason and ex-
| plain; though I'm not so sure he'll be able
to remember all he's been saying. But
l.. Ill oil
made. he is content there is nothing more
on his mind-except as I gather, about
some book"
Ct know all about that" said Maisrie.
ST can pacify him about that; and I'm 60
ing up stairs directly"
Of course she had to wait and see Miss
Bethune and the doctor leave; then sine
turned to Vincent.
"Will you go out for walk, Vincent? I
have asked Mrs MacGill to let you have
some dinner at seven."
"Oh, don't you bother about me, Maisriep'
he said. Cant be OF any use to you up
stairs?"
mot unless grandfather asks for you
again--then will send for you," she an
swered.
Sand tonight" said he, tonight you
must have some rest. hear you were up
all last night-that will never do"
"He is quieter when he knows I am in
the room," she said, simply.
She was going away when he interrupted
her Tor moment.
me-" he said, and then he added: But
but-you know him so much better than
do, Maisrie. Do you think we should tell
him of Miss Bethune having been here2"
"Oh, no, no, Vincentr' she said, in earnest
remonstrance. "Nothing would exclte him
more terribly. You know he has already
been talking Of some message coming from