Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-07-27

She seemed to understand everything,
have been expecting him.
ooh, yes, sir"
"May go upstairs?"
"He gave no name; but she did not hesi
tate for moment She led the way up
stairs; she tapped lightly; and in answer t.
Mr.. Bethune's loud "Come inP she opened
the door, and said
"The young gentleman, sir. "a form o
announcement that might have struck Viz
Harris as peculiar if he had not been much
too occupied to notice.
"Ah, how do you do-how do you do?'
old George Bethune (who was alone) called
and he pushed aside his book and came
forward with extended hand. Nothing
like being neighborly; solitary units in
the great sea of London life have naturally
some interest in each other; you would
gather that looked in on you last night
eyes" said the young man, as he took
the profered chair. 81 am very sorry hap
pened to be out-I had to dine at home last
evening"
CAT homer" repeated Mr.. Bethune look
ing for the moment just trife puzzled.
"Oh, yes" said his visitor, rather ner-
vously. Perhaps I didn't explain. ]
don't live over there, you know. l only
have the rooms for purposes of study; the
place is so quiet can get on better than at
home; there are no Interruptions"
Except little violin playing?" the old
man suggested, good naturedly.
"I wish there were more of that, sir, ="
Vim Harris observed. respect 'ully. "That
was only in the evenings; and I used to
wait for it, to tell you the truth, as a kind
OF unintentional reward after my days
work. But of late 1 have heard nothing;
1 A..A path ofa la1
that ventured to-to open my piano at the
same time"
"Oh, not at ALL can hardly think so, /"
her grandfather said, alrily. "She also has
been busy with her books of late-it is
Dante, believe at present-snd as I in
sist on her always reading aloud, whatever
| the language is, she goes upstairs to her
own room. so that haven't seen much of
her in the evenings. Now may I offer you
a cigar?"
mo, thank you."
"Or a glass ofclaret?"
mo, thanks"
"Then tell me what your studies are, that
we may become better acquainted"
And Vim Harris was about to do that
when the door behind him opened. In
stinctively he rose and turned. The next
instant Maisrie Bethune was be ore him
looking taller, ne thought, than he had, in
Hyde Park, imagined her to be. She sa-
luted him gravely and without embarrass-
ment; perhaps she had been told of his arri-
val; it was he who was for the moment,
somewhat confused, and anxious to apollo
gize and explain. But, curiously enough,
that was only a passing phase. When
once he had realized that she also
was in the room-not paying much
attention, perhaps, but listening when she
chose, as she went to and fro engaged in her
own affairs-all his embarrassment fled, and
his natural buoyancy and confidence came
to his aid. When she appeared at the door,
she was carrying small basket of brown
wickeryork; and this she now opened, tax
ing from it heap OF rich-hued peonies,
which she proceeded to place in fat glass
dish on the middle of the table, sprinkling
some water over them thereafter. She
seemed to consider that she was of no &C
count; that she was not called upon to inter-
fere in this conversation between her grand
father and his guest. When she had fin
ished with the flowers, she went to the open
window, and took her seat, opening out some
needlework she had carried thither The
young man could see she had beautiful
hands-rather long, perhaps, but exquisitely
formed: another wonderl But the truly ex-
traordinary thing-the enchantment-Has
that here he was in the same room with her,
likely to become her friend, and already
privileged to speak so that she could hearl
For of course he was aware that he had
an audience of two; and very we'll he talked
in his half-excited mood. There was no
more timidity; there was gay self-asser-
tion-a desire to excel and shine; sometimes
he laughed, and his laugh was musical. He
had skillfully drawn from the old man
confession Of political. faith (of course be
was a conservative, as became one of the
Bethunes of Balloray) so all chances OF
indeed Vim Harris was ready to have
sworn that black was white, so eager was
he to make an impression, on this his first
and wondrous visit.
The time went by all too quickly; but the |
young man had become intoxicated by this |
unexpected joy; instead OF getting up and |
apologizing, and taking his hat, and going |
away, he boldly threw out the suggestion |
that these three-the solitary units |
in the great sea of London life, as
George Bethune had called them-should |
determine to spend the evening together. He |
did not seem to be aware of the audacity of |
his proposal; he was carrying everything |
before him in this high-handed fashion; |
the touch of colour that rose to Maisrie |
Bethune's cheek-what of that? Oh, yes,
maiden shyness, no doubt; but of little con-
sequence; here were the golden moments
here the golden opportunity; why should
they separate?
"You see" said he, 81 don't care to in
our people at home BY nv un-
certain hours; and so of late / have taken to
dining at a restaurant, just when 1 felt in
clined; and have got to know something of
the different places. 1 think we might 60
out for a little stroll, as the evening will be
cooler now, and wander on until we see a
quiet and snug looking corner. There is
something in freedom of choice; and you
may catch sight of bay window, or of a re-
cess with flowers in it, and a bit of fount-
ain, that tempts the eye"
"What do you say, Maisrie?" the old gen.
tleman inquired.
"You go, grandfather" the girl replied at
once, but without raising her head. at
will be pleasant change for you. would
rather remain at home"
"Oh, but I should never have proposed
such thing. Vincent interposed hastily,
eff it meant that Miss Bethune was to be
lett here alone. certainly notl II decline
to be party to any such arrangement-oh,
I could not think of such thingI"
"You'd better come, Maisrie," said the
old man, with some air OF authority.
Every well, grandfather" she said, ODE
diently; and straightway she rose and left
the room.
Master Wins heart beat high; here were
wonders upon wonders; in a short space he
would be walking along the pavements of
London town with Maisrie Bethune by his
side (or practically so), and thereafter he
and she would be seated at the same table,
almost within touch of each other. When
he do Afoso pntk |