The Argosy, Volume XXIV — page 27: what you’re looking at

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

Gabriel’s Appointment. 23 young gentleman, and he is well to do, and everybody speaks in his praise, and the dearest lady in the land is to marry him—but if you saw him on the brink of some awful danger that might ruin him body and soul, wouldn’t you try all you could to save hime I’m sure you would. And I may be, after all, making a great mistake, but some- how it seems borne in upon me that the man I know and you will come together some dreadful day, and what will come of it, God, Who pities us all, only knows. Oh sir! if in that day, whenever it comes, you will think of my words—if you'll only remember that if it is a good thing to hinder a man from doing wrong, it is grander still to help him to do right—if you'll be merciful—as merciful as you can—I will pray God to bless you in all you do, and that you may never know what it is to have a name you love held up to scorn and shame !” ‘Woman !” he said, stamping on the floor as if in agony, ‘‘ what makes you speak to me like that? Do you suppose no one has ever had anything to bear but yourself? There, poor soul, I’ll do what I can. Don’t break your heart beforehand; we may both be mis- taken—but this I promise you, at any rate—I’ll not betray your confidence, if you will deal fairly with mine. If you will watch on your part, and do your best to keep your man from crossing us, I, on mine, will not go out of my way to look for him: aye, and if we do meet, as you fear, I’ll give him a chance, supposing I have one to give. But I am no gentleman, Grace, remember, and nothing will ever make me one now.” “Nothing will ever make you anything else while you behave as one,” said Grace, fervently; and as Mrs. Salisbury’s step was heard approaching, she wiped her eyes, and hid the fur cap under her shawl. The lady was impatient to get home, so Martin had only to hand her into her pony-carriage, and bow his acknowledgment of the civility with which she renewed her invitation to come and see Myra, who was always wishing to see him again. If allowed, he would walk over the next day, to inquire what news Miss Kerr had received. “Do so,” said Mrs. Salisbury, as she gathered up her reins. ‘‘And a word to the wise—take care how you trust your servant yonder, till you have given him a real trial.” ‘¢T don’t trust him at all,” said Martin. He proved his words, for when he came to Highlevels the next morning he brought his satellite with him, as well as Settler, leav- ing them to wait for him outside. Orders had been given for his ‘mmediate introduction into the library, but he was so much earlier than had been expected, that Alice was still occupied, with Grace’s assistance, in arranging her drawing-board and chair in the proper light for her sitter. “Oh, is it you already, Mr. Martin? Iam so glad to see you again! I want to know what you have heard, and to talk over what they tell me—it seems to have been the strangest affair, and poor commicbooks.conn