Argosy (UK), January 1955 — page 60: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

. > F3 a . — “es “* tng” a — om =3 = a “ie ead ee sd Biss 58 , er i AGEN EE BRAHMS never know where you are! And then, she lives so far away. f == _ wanted them up in my second floor back, but my son-in-law, he : ~ wouldn’ t hear of it!” a Monsieur Gustave did his best to look surprised. ‘“‘ But I’m expecting a summons to go to her at any minute—_ a ~any minute, Monsieur Gustave—and I want you to take care of - a 3 _ my fern till I come back. oe «Your fern?” - Monsieur Gustave, this fern has character. I’d know it ina ~ _ thousand! ” “You would?” “JT would,” said Madame la Concierge firmly. “ Take it up 3 now, and mind you don’t forget it. And remember, these Maiden- hairs need watering every day.” _ “ Every day, Madame la Concierge? ” _ “ Every day, Monsieur Gustave.” Scarcely had Monsieur Gustave reached his room and put his burden on the wash-stand, when the Apparatus buzzed. Mon- _ sieur Gustave decrotcheted it from the wall. ‘‘ All6—all6?”’ _ The frog at the other end turned out to be his rich Aunt _ Mignonnette—his only tante a héritage. “‘ You have not forgotten. _ tomorrow, Nephew? ”’ “"Tante Mignonnette! ”’ Monsieur Gustave played reproach- fully for time. ‘‘ Tomorrow ”—he thought furiously—“ that’s _ Saturday, isn’t it?” | “ The conseil de famille takes place in the afternoon. A week- _ end in the country with the Family will do you a world of good, _ this weather.” ee Lhe Family? ” ‘“* Now, Gustave, listen to me...” Monsieur Gustave listened to his Tante. Monsieur Gustave looked at his plante. _ Monsieur Gustave’s natural prudence dictated his decision: _“ T shall be there,” he said. | _ Numéro onze rue du Congrés was just a house like any other. _ But not to Monsieur Gustave, standing on the doorstep with his _ fern. To him, the sun, the moon, and the stars appeared to have taken up their habitation there. For here lived Mademoiselle Sophie. Their fiangailles had been under haggle for several Sundays already, and the lovers had little doubt that in the end a settle- ment would be arrived at to their mutual benefit, by Mademoiselle Sophie’s Papa and Monsieur Gustave’s Tante. conmiclooks.comn “To you, it’s just a fern like any other, but I assure you, =