Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-12-16

the carriage, it was to Hervey YOU gave from
the window your last good-bv."
"But how is that wrong?" asked Gather
inc, still smiling; should not try to be
equally nice to them both?''
The cloak began to slip down once more,
for her warm little hand had sought her
fathers and crept inside it, like bird to its
nest.
"How cold your hand is" she said, shiv-
ering.
Scott's fingers closed over hers, at first
fonuly, then with unconscious force, until
beneath the unendurable pressure she gave
cry of pain.
Equally kind to them both?" he re-
peated; don't you see what you are doing?
You are encouraging both to hope where
you can only satisfy one. They used to be
friends; now on your account they are so no
longer. even see them exchange glances
of emnity. 1t Hervey enjoys a momentary
pre-eminence, Hutchinson is cast down; if
you accord Hutchinson q favor, Hervey
bites his lip and scowls. Always together
when you are present, they avoid each other
when alone. 1 heard Hutchinson Just now
say to his friend, Are you going to
Walk and when he got the an
swer 'Yesr then I'll rider said he,
and turned on his heel. Formerly,
IS you remember, each enjoyed nothing so
much as the others COMPANY; but Jealousy
is plant OF rapid growth. Beginning with
petty insults of this sort between comrades,
no one can say to what it may not lead-to
the bitter word, the unforgivabIe blow,
even to the crime of Cain"
1t was here that Scott in his vehemence
crushed GATHERINGS hand and wrung from
her a little cry,
"My poor darliugI 1 have hurt youT' said
he remorsefully, and carrying her fingers to
his lips he covered it with kisses. "There, L
will not forget again what delicate little
hand it is! You know l would not purposely
hurt il ior the world.
"Aud l." said Catherine, with tears in her
eyes, but again smiling, did not mean to
do the harm L appear to have done to-
night. But it never occurred to me things
were so serious-even now-ohl l feel sure
neither of them cares Tor me in the wav you
Ineanr'
PERHAPS not; perhaps 1 am mistaken.
And yet. Catherine, let us imagine they do
care; that both are anxious for your favor.
Do you act fairly by them in letting each
one think YOU like him best, or at least quite
as we'll as the otner?''
"Why, dearest" cried Catherine, laugh
ing, 'even if 1 did care for one in partica-
lar, which l don't, L should be bound to
conceal it. You know a girl must not show
preferences"
Error, errorI" said Scott. ''Is not a girl
a human being too? Shall she not have her
likes and dislikes with the rest of us? That
is fatal doctrine which teaches her to con-
ceal every hint of the truth. My little
daughter, have known a case in which this
unnatural reticence, due partly to narrow
education, partly to cruel coquetry, worked
irretrievable harm"
He paused, deep in thought. The
image of another Catherine rose be-
fore him. He followed her through
her brief career, down to the dreadful grave
There, one cold wet day. long ago. he had
left her who had so loved the sunshine and
the light; but the sin, the anguish, the un-
availIng regret had remained with him ever
since.
"A man." said he presently, "wili accent
his fate manfully from the woman he loves,
so long as she deals openly and honestly
with him; but while she lures him on, he
will cede TO no one. Therefore, Catherine, 1
implore you to act frankly with those Two
young fellows. Ii there is one you like
better than the other, do not be afraid to re-
veal it. Why should you be afraid? Ifhe
is poor, 1 have enough for you both; and
why should ask for family or position? 1
rose from the people myself. All 1 ask is
that you should be happy and good, and
make, through your affection, the man you
marry good and happy likewise.
sit is evident don't make you happy"
said Catherine, playfully; ''or you would
not be SO axious to get rid of me-"
'Should 1 not be selfish wretch you called
yourself just now, If / tried to keep you
from the man You loved?"
$50 Won are making out it is / who am in
love now, sIr?" cried Catherine, with re-
proach. "For the future, instead of being
equally kind to every one, must be equally
cold"
mo; there is another danger there" said
Scott; young men have feelings as well as
girls, and some are too shy, and some too
proud, to fall in love without receiving anv
encouragement. 1 want you to let your
heart lead you; then you cannot go wrong.
And it is natural 1 should have anxleties
about your future. Who knows how long
/ shall be here to take care of you?'
Time after time he said a word of this
sort, with the design of gently preparing
Catherine for the coming change But the
girl could not understand his meaning His
fits of pain, his lassitude, his visits to the
physician. appeared to her only in counec-
tion with some passing indisposition, per-
haps incidental to his great age. For
young people all considered Scott much
older than he really was, on account OF his
bent figure, white hair and wasted features
Catherine nestled close up to him.
t'You are never going to leave me, dear
est, and 1 am never going to marry. 1 am
going to remain with you, and be your own
little girl always!
The carriage reached home, and Scott,
lifting his daughter out, pressed her CRATE
fully in his arms; but he knew that,
in spite of her innocent protestations,
the day would come when she would
think otherwise. And he would have
FASTENED the moment had he been able, be-
cause, ever drawing nearer and more near,
he foresaw for his darling this dark and
lonely days of a first great grief.
CHAPTER III.
The interest O'Brien aroused in Scott in
creased the more he saw of him. Eventually