The Argosy — page 66: what you’re looking at

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56 Margaret's Grave. He shut his eyes and leaned back against the dark velvet cushions of the chair, a half-defined smile playing about the corners of his mouth. “‘ Now begin,” she said, softly. “ First,” he said, reaching out his hand until he could touch the proud little head, “there are two eyes shining down on me like stars; they are blue in the sunshine, and purple as pansies in the shade ; there is a Straight little nose, and a beautiful mouth with transparent teeth ; rosy cheeks, made for a lover's kisses; a dainty chin with a dimple in it, and a slender white throat, fit only for strings of milk-white pearls ! Then, over all, there is a wealth of nut-brown hair around my darling’s face, where just now the lilly and the rose are holding sweet conten- tion. May I open my eyes now, Blossom ?” There was no reply; and he looked up suddenly, to find Leslie with her face hidden in her hands, and tears dropping through her fingers. “ Why, Leslie, my darling, what is the matter ? ” “Oh, Richard,” she said, softly sobbing, “do you really love me as much as you say? When I shall be your wife, will there never be another face to come between us? ” A moment's solemn pause. And then Richard Ensor spoke gravely, “ Trust me, Leslie, nothing shall ever come between us. Not evena memory ?” But, even as he went out, he whispered a word or two to Miss Grey in passing. She was then sitting under the stars by the acacia tree. “‘ Be entirely silent until we have spoken together, Margaret. For my sake.” Never in all her young and careless life had Leslie Russell awakened to joy so great as on that first day after she had promised to be Richard Ensor’s wife. She had her little faults and follies; but she was a good girl withal ; and she loved him deeply, and meant to be ever faithful and true. It was the first day of May. Bird-songs were ringing in the trees, the gay, golden sunbeams were dancing on the greensward; and + over the far-away purple hills a mantle of soft mist hung, kissed by the glad morning from sober grey to a brilliant amethyst. Leslie sat at her window a long time, looking out with sparkling eyes upon the landscape, whose smallest feature had been familiar to her from her childhood ; but she did not note much of its varied beauties— she only felt that Richard Ensor loved her, and under that sweet knowledge all the world grew bright. It seemed to her as if she had no longer any wish ungratified, unless it was—ah, there was Richard himself coming up the walk ; and with a gay good-morning nod, she flew down the stairs to welcome him. But when she reached the hall, Margaret Grey stood like:a: shadow comicbooks.com