The Argosy — page 111: what you’re looking at

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

Edina. c 99 CHAPTER XXIV. FRANK RAYNOR FOLLOWED. Tue whole house was steeped in grief—for Major Raynor had died at dawn. As most houses are, when a near and beloved relative is removed : and the anguish is more keenly felt if the blow, as in this case, falls suddenly. Edina was a treasure now: she had travelled by night and was early at Eagles’ Nest. Mourning with them sin- cerely, she at the same time strove to cheer. She whispered of a blessed meeting hereafter, where shall be no more parting; she would not let them sorrow without hope. Even Mrs. Raynor felt comforted : and the little children dried their ready tears, saying that their dear papa was with the angels in heaven, and they should go to him when God saw that they were good enough. But of that other misfortune none of the household yet knew. Frank took an opportunity of revealing it to Edina. It-nearly overwhelmed even her. - “ Eagles’ Nest not theirs!” she cried, in a dread whisper. ‘Eagles’ Nest George Atkinson’s |” “And the worst of it is,” returned Frank, running through a brief summary of the details he had heard, ‘‘that he means to exact his rights at once, and take immediate possession of the place as soon as he lands. Did you not know this George Atkinson once, Edina?” “Yes—a little,” she answered, a faint blush tingeing her cheek at the remembrance. “ Was he selfish and hard then?” “‘T—cannot quite tell, Frank. He did not appear to me to be so.” “Perhaps not. He was young then: and men get harder as they get older. “But now, Edina, what is to be done? They will have to turn out of this house, and where will they find another?” The problem seemed to be as hard as was that gentleman, now on his homeward voyage: George Atkinson. Edina sat in an attitude of almost despair as she tried to solve it: her hands folded quietly on her black dress ; her usually calm, good face perplexed ; her steady eyes anxious. The unexpected blow had fallen on her sharply; and in these first moments it was a hard task to battle with it. Suddenly lift- ing her two hands, she laid them on the smooth brown hair on either side her temples—as if she felt a pain there. So far as she,or any one else, could see, the Raynors would not have a penny piece to fall back upon : no income of any kind, more or less. The Major’s annuity had died with him. “They are all so helpless!” she murmured. comicbooks.com