The Argosy — page 191: what you’re looking at

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

THe Ancosv.| Anne Hereford. 175 no doubt that Gregg was here, and a clerk with him. Little Miss Hereford showed them out, and I suppose admitted them. It was an odd time to choose for the visit—the hour of the funeral.” Can you imagine how terrified I felt as Charlotte Delves related this? I had done no wrong; I had simply obeyed the orders of Mrs. Edwin Barley ; but it was uncertain what amount of blame her husband might lay to my share, and how he would punish it. “Tt is strange what Gregg could he doing here at that time with a clerk ; and in private, as you appear to assume,’’ said Mr. Edwin Bar- ley. ‘Could he have come by appointment, to transact any legal business for Selina ?” ‘‘ But if so, why should she wish it kept from you?” and Charlotte Delves’s voice had a jealous ring in it: jealous for the nghts of her cousin, Edwin Barley. “YT don’t know. The hittle girl may be able to explain. Call her up.” - Another fright for me. But the next moment his voice counter- manded the order. ‘‘Never mind, Charlotte; let 1t-be. When I want information of Anne Hereford, I'll question her myself. And if Selina did anything, made a will, or gave Gregg any other directions, we shall soon know of it.” “Made a will!” exclaimed Charlotte Delves. “T should not think it hkely that she would, but she could do it; she was of age,” replied Mr. Barley. He went into his study with the desk, and Charlotte Delves passed down stairs. I got into her parlour as soon as she did; never having seen my dear Aunt Selina. But they took me to sec her the next day, when she was in her first coffin. She looked very calm and peaceful: but I think the dead, generally speaking, do look peaceful: whether they have died a happy death or not. <A few autumn flowers were strewed upon her flannel shroud. In coming out of the room, my face streaming with tears, there stood Mr. Lowe. “ Oh, sir!” I cried, in my burst of grief, “‘ what made her die? Could you not have saved her?” ‘¢ My hittle girl, what she really died of was exhaustion,” he answered. ‘‘ The disease took hold of her, and she could not rally from it. As to saving her—God alone could have done that.” There was no inquest this time. The doctors certified to some cause of death. The house was more closely shut up than before ; the servants went about speaking in whispers; deeper mourning was prepared for them. In Selina’s desk a paper had been found by Mr. Edwin Barley—a few pencilled directions on it, should she “ unhappily die.” Therefore the prevision of death had been really upon her. She comicaooks GO)