Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-08-24

tnat tney are unknown, tnat tney are poorT
To be wealthy is to be virtuous, of course; il
you have long balance at your bankers
you are above suspicion then; if you have
plate, you're all right I suppose"
said be, altering his tone, 'that it was on
that very evening-the evening of her In.
spection-that my aunt was kind enough to
talk over those two friends OF mire with you,
and tell you OF all the portentous things she
suspected OF them, But presume she did
not repeat to you the very last words she
used to me a. she said good-night?"
"About what?"
"About Miss Bethune," said Vincent
though it cost him indescribable effort to
pronounce her name.
swell, believe she did, ";.Lord Mussel-
burgh said. "For she had Just come away
from hearing Miss Bsthune sing some
much struck; and she said she had admit
ted as much to you. oh, more than that
but don't precisely remember the words.
Anyhow, she was immensely i'm
pressed by the sincerity and SIM
plicity of the girls voice; at
the moment she was ready to
give mp all her prejudices and doubts-as
far as Miss Bethune was concerned. But
really, Vim, when you come to think of it,
you must confess that there is not much
guidance as to character, or to antecedents,
or anything else, in the mere singing OF
song. Mrs. Ellison, who is always posing
as a callous woman of the world, is really
very sympathetic and generous, and warm
hearted; and she was quite taken captive by
the charm and simplicity of this Claire
Fontaine-is that the name of it?-5ut at
the same time should not place too great a
value"
81 quite agree with you," the younger
man said, interrupting without apology.
81 place no more value on my aunt's ac-
quittal and commendstion than on her
previous suspicious. And-and-if you
don't mind, Musselburgh, would rather
not have the question discussed iurther, nor
Miss Bethune's name mentioned in any
way whatsoever"
'Oh, but remember said nothing agains st
her" Lord Musselburgh finally added, in
perfect good humor. "How could 1? 1
hope your new friends are all you think
them; and as Tor the young lady, it is diff
cult to believe any harm of so refined and
sweet face. But hope you won't concern
yourself too much with them, Vim; yon have
other, and perhaps more serious, interests in
life; and it seems to me that everything
promises we'll for you. Why, at this mo-
ment, man, don't you know what ought to
be occupying all your attention.
"What?" his companion asked-perhaps
glad enough to get away from that delicate
topic.
ing of if 1 were in your Shoes" Musselburgh
said. ST should be wondering how much
space the editor of the Mendouer Weekly
Guardian was going to give me on Saturday
morning next"
1t was another editor whom Vincent had
In his mind at that moment. As soon as he
got back to London he wrote and dispatched
tine following letter, which was addressed to
Hugh Austruther, Esq, Western Scotsman
Office, New York, U. S. A."
DEAR SIR-I hope you will be so kind
as to consider the contents of this note as
strictly private and confidential In re-
cent conversation with Lord Musselburgh
he informed me that it was you who had
given a letter of introduction to him to Mr..
George Bethune; and from Mr.. Bethune
himself learn that he, Mr.. Bethune, is
about to bring out a volume on the Scottish
poets in America, as soon as he can con-
veniently get the materials together. But
to this end it would appear that he must re-
visit the United States and Canada, to OBJ |
tain particulars Of the lives of the various |
poets and verse writers, and perhaps, also,
examples of their work.
"Now, wish to ask you, as friend of |
Mr.. Bethune's, whether all this fatigue and |
travel might not be spared him, supposng
there were some person or persons in this |
country willing to defray the cost of having
those materials collected for him. To |
speak plainly, do you, sir, know OF any |
writer, connected with the press or |
otherwise, who would undertake, for
a sufficient consideration, to bring to-
gether biographical memoirs of the
authors in question, along with specimens
OF their work, which could be sent over
here to Mr.. Bethune, for him to put into
shape and issue in book form. Mr.. Bethune,
as you know, is an old man. who must
surely have had enough of travelling; more
through Scotland which, while also leading
to literary results, would involve much less
fatigue than a voyage to the United States
and Canada. should be greatly obliged
if you would tell me whether you consider
it practicable to collect those materials by
deputy; also, If you know of any one capa-
Bile of undertaking the task; and what re-
he would probably require.
81 lear that the idea of collaboration
would not be welcome to Mr.. Bethune; SO it
might be better (if possible at alp that the
for the book should be got to-
gether by some one with no literary preten-
|
of the volume exclusively in Mr.. Bethune's
hands. 1 presume that mechanical
work Of that kind could be done by
,lerk-especially if he had your authority
10 write to the various gentlemen and ask
hem for copies of such thing as they
to have published: but of course
you must be better judge of such a ques-
ion than I; and shall be entirely guided
~ your advice, il you will be good enough
o grant it me.
81 beg you to forgive me, a stranger, for
hus appealing to you; but know you will
lot grudge little trouble for the sake of
riend and fellow Scotchman.
yours faithfully and obedieutly,
VINCENT HARRIS"
After sending off that letter the young
mans spirits lightened considerably; he
aw there was still chance that Maisrie
3ethune, her grandfather and himself
hould together set out on that coveted per-
of the legend-haunted districts
f the North. And now he and they had
eturned to their ordinary mode of life
which perhaps pleased him better than the
festivities of Henley. Here
vas no staring crowd, here were no suspi-
ious friends, to break in upon their close
md constant companionship. He rejoiced
n this isolation; he wished for no fourth
,erson at the quiet little dinners in the res
aurants; he had no desire that anyone should
hare the privacy OF the hushed small parlor
where old George Bethune loItily dis
oursed of poetry and philosophy, of
ncient customs and modern manners, and
Fhere Maisrie played pathetic Scotch airs
N the violin, or sang in her low clear voice
# lie pont d'Avignon or perhaps OF Marian
on, dame jolie. Moreover, he could not
all to perceive, and that with an eyer-in- |