The Argosy, Vol. XXIV No. 2 — page 107: what you’re looking at

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

A TRADE DOLLAR ‘TRAGEDY, 299 Oh, Jim! I was just on the point of giving him up—for no young fellow has a right to get a married man into such a scrape as this—when the door opened and Julia’s younger sister, Maude, came in. | Maude is a cool and cynical young woman, very much end of the century. I couldn’t tell Jim’s love affair to her. I could prove in course of time that I was not the man who had been driving Mary Marston about the country in a conspicuous costume. I put my hands in my pockets and settled back with an air of virtuous innocence. ‘* What’s the matter here? Youand Dick havingashindy ? Whaton earth is wrong? Have you kissed the cook, Dick ? Won’t you let her have a new parlor carpet ?’’ ‘Oh, no,’’ I said with great calmness, ‘‘I’ve been riding about the country with Mary Marston, and Julia’s objecting.’’ “Well, Pll congratulate you on your good taste. You couldn’t find a pret OS girl. I’m sure if I were a man I couldn’t live opposite Mary for two weeks and not ask her to go driving, but I didn’t think you had the brisk- ness to do it.”’ ; ‘“Oh, you may joke,’’ poor Julia said, but I saw there was a glimmer of hope that it was a joke. Our house is an old fashioned one, with windows opening to the ground. Julia turned towards one of them, mopping her eyes, and at that instant that infernal messenger boy stepped on the lawn directly in front of her and held out a note. ‘“ Miss Marston said for me to give this to Mr. Winthrop, and will you sign it ?’’ Julia took the note, and turned around, perfectly pallid, holding in her hand a tiny square of palest azure, the Sntieitionnd young lady’s note. I got up and held out my hand for it. Maude looked at us both and gave a. low and expressive whistle. ‘“No!’’ said Julia; and she tore the letter open. It‘had grown to deadly earnest now. I should have to tell on Jim. The note would do it if I did not. ‘“Tf I must tell you,’’ I began ‘“ Maude, listen to this: ‘*My DEAR MR. WINTHROP: ‘Thank you so much for the warning / I have something delightful to tell you, and will try to see you during the morning. I see Betty B. hasamatch. I could not enjoy two more than I have the one. ‘* Yours so truly, ‘“ MARY MARSTON.”’ Maude reached out her hand for the note. ‘Well, Dick, my boy, you have been going it, rather. You ought to have her educated past sending notes to the house. I can’t really blame Julia this time. I think you’re rather a brute.’’ And she looked at me with mild contempt. There were no tears for Julia now. She had risen in the might and dig- nity of her womanhood. She was showing at last the real fine grain that I CORMiclaoolks (Q) 3