The Argosy — page 68: what you’re looking at

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

58 | Margaret's Grave. face. She turned into the breakfast-room, where she stood idly by the table, and pulled to pieces the tiny bouquet Margaret had left at her plate. Mrs. Russell went on to the library, and when they were shut in, motioned her visitor to a seat opposite her own. “ And now, Mr. Ensor, what is it you have to say to me?” ““T want you to give me your daughter,” he said, coming at once to the point. “I have loved her for some time, Mrs. Russell. Last night I spoke, and asked her to be my wife.” “And what did Miss Russell say?” ‘She acknowledged that she /oved me,” he said, with a smile of sweet triumph in his eyes. “I do not think that you will refuse to make us happy, Mrs. Russell?” “TI refuse you nothing,” she said, calmly; “but as Leslie has no father to look after her interests, you must excuse me if I enquire into your capability of suitably maintaining my daughter.” “It is only right that you should do so,” Mr. Ensor frankly answered. -“Hitherto my income has been comparatively small, an easy com- petence ; but my uncle is now dead—as you have, I think, heard— and I am his sole heir. I wish to go home to England as soon as may be now, to enter into possession of the estate.” “ And his estate was—?” Mrs. Russell began, leaning eagerly for- ward. There was some scorn on Mr. Ensor’s face, but he suppressed it at once. Mrs. Russell was mercenary to a degree, “Your daughter loved me as a poor man, Mrs. Russell ; but to you I will say that my income will be a very large one. Vouchers for it shall be laid before you.” A swift red mantled Mrs. Russell’s face and neck, but she managed to rise with her usual dignity. “We must think of everything,” she said, giving her hand to her future son-in-law. ‘Young people, lovers especially, think they can live on sentiment ; but those of us who have gained experience in the world know differently !” “You are satisfied, then, with Leslie’s decision ?” “Yes,” she said. And Mrs. Russell sank back in her chair with a satisfied smile on her face. For she had done just what she had always intended to do—secured a rich husband for her daughter. Margaret Grey had fought a stern battle with her own heart, and come off conqueror. A dozen times she had said to herself that first night that she would go to Richard Ensor, and insist upon his speaking. But she did not do it ; perhaps for the sake of those old happy times in Europe. “T have sacrificed so much for them all. Must I make yet another sacrifice for Leslie’s sake ?” ale comicbooks.com