Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-09-28

Maisrie; but she was too yielding; she wa
too generous with her favors; she ought q
make distinctions; she ought not to permi
this great, idle crowd to draw false conclu
sions. It was ill done of her-behind hi
back; had she so soon forgotten that he hat
| pledged his life to her not 30 very many
hours ago7
By and by he knew rather than saw tina
they were returning. He was on the sea
ward side OF the road; there were gooc
many people passing to and fro; moreover
he was partly concealed by an open ny thai
stood close to the railings. The tall dog
cart came swiftly along; an unpreJudiceo
| spectator would have said that the young
man who was driving was rather good
looking young fellow, of the pink and white
type. with small yellow mustacne care
fully waxed at the ends, and clear gray
| eyes. He wore q buf-colored coat, with q
velvet collar OF similar hue; he had flower
in his button-hole. Then, again, his turn
out was faultless-a neatly appointed cart
beautiful, high-stepping roam. All this
was visible at a glance.
But it was on Maisrie Bethune that
Vincent's gaze was bent; and as she drew
near, his heart was smitten at once with re-
morse and with gratitude. Had he ex-
pected, then, that she would be smirking
and smiling and coquetting with this new
acquaintance? On the contrary, Maisrie
sat there grave and silent and reserved; her
eyes were neither observant nor conscious;
once or twice they were turned toward the
sea. To Vincent she seemed so distinguished
looking, so refined, and noble, and SELF
possessed, as coItrasted with that fresh
complexioned country clown who had the
monstrous audacity to claim her as his COM
panion. Then, as the dog cart went by, he
caught sight of George Bethune. he was
sitting rather sideways, to permit of his ad-
dressing an occasional remark to the young
gentleman who was driving; no doubt that
was why Maisrie was allowed to remain
silent. Perhaps she was thinking-of some
one whom she thought to be far away -?
Strangely enough, as soon as they had
disappeared from view, his doubts and i'm
aginings grew black again. For a moment
that vision of Maisrie's sweet face had
charmed him out of himself; but now these
hideous questions rushed back upon him,
demanding an answer where there was no
answer. He did not attempt to reason him.
self out of this paroxysm of Jealousy; that
would have been useless; he could but sub
NIT to this gnawing torture of anxiety and
suspense, while walking up and down, and
waiting, and fearing to find them coming
within sight once more.
They did not return. Shortly after four
the dusk began to fall; by halfpast five
black night had enveloped sky and sea, and
the town was all ablaze with golden stars.
There were hardly any carriages now; the
people had betaken themselves to the other
side OF the road, to look in at the glaring
shop-windows on their way home. Vincent
found himself more alone than ever; and
knew not what to do or which way to turn.
In his present frame of mind he dared not
90 near the house in Brunswick Terrace; he
could not submit to cross-examining eyes.
1t would drive him pad to talk, while those
ranking conjectures were busy at his heart.
He wanted to see Maisrie again; and yet
dreaded to see her, lest he should find her
once more in the society of that man.
But about $50 his aimless peram mbulations
of the street became circumscribed. He
drew nearer to the neighborhood of the restau-
rants. If old George Bethune had brought
his London habits down with him, as many
people did, would not he soon make his ap-
pearance, along with his granddaughter?
Here in East street, for example, were cafes,
both French and Italian, where they could
have foreign dinner if they chose. Would
he venture to address them? Would he con-
fess he had seen them driving-in the hope
they might volunteer information for which
he dared not ask? He could not tell; his
brain was in a bewilderment of anxiety and
unreasoning misery; and this grew worse,
indeed, as the slow minutes went BY, and
there was no sign of the figures for whom he
was so eagerly watching.
And then a sickening thought occurred
to him. What If those two had been invited
to dine at hotel by the country clod-by the
young man from the plow-by the rutic dan
DIV with the velvet collar? At the Old Ship,
nj IN fr,es -
howers-plenty of champagne-Honde Jun
ior CAV and festive. Cigarettes between the
courses-Arry having learnt so much from
the cheap society journals; and will not Miss
Bethune be persuaded to join? All, we'll,
perhaps after dinner, when the liqeurs come
to be handed round. There is piano in
the room: will Miss Bethune oblige with an
accompaniment?-her is a smart little
thing-"Kiss Me on the Sly, Johnnier'-
the latest draw at the music halls.
Seven by the big clock over the stationer's
shop; and still no sign of them. Clearly
they were not coming to any restaurant
herebaout. So at length he LETT East street
and went down to the Kings road, and
wandered slowly along, glancing iurtively
into this or that hotel-especially where
some coffee room window happened to have
been left with the blind up. 1t was a vain
quest, and he was aware of it; but some
thing, he knew not what, drew him on.
And meanwhile his mind was busy with
pictures-of private room, and flowers, and
three figures seated at table. Ach wehl
mein Liebchen war die Brautl
At quarter to 8, Lord MusseIburgh was
shown into Mrs. Ellison's drawing room.
Haven't you seen anything of Vin?" she
said, with astonished eyes.
'No-nor you?"
"Nothing at all-and now he won't have
time to dress for dinner"
81 shouldn't wonder if he did not turn up
for dinner" Musselburgh said. "Some-
thing very peculiar happened to him to-day
Il could not precisely gather what-but he
was obviously upset"
"Yes," said Mrs. Ellison, and her face
was graver than its won't Something has
indeed happened to him to-day-though he
himself is not aware OF it as yet"
She went to a little cabinet, and took from
it two letters.
81 thought you ought to see both of
these" said she. Zone is from my brother
in-law; got it just minute or two after
you left. The other is my answer; will
have it posted as soon as you have read it. -
He took the first letter, which was from
Vincent's father, and read it carefully
through, without a word OF comment. Then
he took the other. which ran as follows:
"DEAR HARLAND-It is very terrible,
but half suspected as much, and terrible
as it is there is nothing to be done but to tell
Vim the whole truth, and at once. Tele-
graph for him tomorrow morning-on busi-
ness OF Importance; if he wants to come
down again 1 shall be ready with such con-
ISOLATION as can think Of 1 fancy from one
or two things that those people are here in
Brighton just now; all the more reason why
you should summon him home at once.