The Argosy — page 130: what you’re looking at

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

118 Gwen. confronting him with brilliant cheeks and shining eyes. “As it it could matter whether you were thirty-five or eighty-five or one hun- dred and five, as long as you were Mr. Dallas and I was just Gwen! I always thought figures stupid things, but I never guessed that they could be stupid enough to part real friends !” What happened upon this outburst of Gwen’s we will leave our readers to imagine. Suffice it to say that an hour after Dr. Ellis met his daughter and his favourite master coming towards him across the lawn in a state of idyllic bliss, Gwen’s face radiant, and Mr. Dallas’s wearing an expression of almost boyish delight. “He is not going after all, papa ; I have bribed him to stay with this sprig of sweetbriar,” said Gwen, slipping away and leaving her hero to tell the wonderful tale of their love. After listening calmly to all Mr. Dallas had to say, the Head-Master heaved a sigh as he remarked: “It is the old story, Dallas, of the rising and setting sun. I was Gwen’s hero once, but I must be con- tent to play second fiddle for the future.” “She will not think of leaving you, sir; we have talked it all over,” said Mr. Dallas, not noticing how the father winced at that “ we.” “T shall decline this new appointment, and ask you to let me remain on as I am for the present. And perhaps, eventually, you might let me furnish the unused wing of the College, so that when Gwen does leave you it will be only for another home under the same roof.” ‘Well, that is not a bad idea,” said Dr. Ellis, “‘ but I must have time to think it over. You young people are so impetuous ; it nearly takes one’s breath away.” With which gentle sarcasm, the Doctor went off to talk the matter over with his wife. comicbooks.com