The Argosy — page 184: what you’re looking at

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

172 The Missing Rubies. all this delight and sweetness were incomplete without the com- panionship that was most to be desired on earth. ‘Mr. Redburn is asking for you,” said Alma, breaking in upon her solitude with an apologetic smile. ‘I am so sorry to disturb you ; I see that you are reading.” But Beatrice, although an open book was in her hand, had not read a single line. She smiled back at Alma, and obeyed the unwelcome summons with a good grace. As she came up the walk with sunbeams and leaf-shadows flickering over her face and figure, the two old men stood watching her on the lawn. Both were struck with that girlish dignity of hers; both estimated at its full value the morning freshness of her beauty. “It would bea thousand pities for such a girl to throw herself away on Earle,” whispered the Colonel to his friend. ‘ It must not be !—by Jove, it must not be!” “Tt shall not be,” was the answer, in a low growl of determina- tion. “T shall take her in hand at once, Lindrick, and put an end to all that preposterous nonsense for ever.” Beatrice wondered what was meant by “ preposterous nonsense?” She had caught the two words, but did not guess that they were applied to any affair of hers. Looking quietly happy after her saunter among the flowers, she came towards Mr. Redburn wtth a pleasant good-morning. “Good-morning, my dear,” he responded, rather gruffly; “you and IJ are going to take a little stroll about the grounds and have a talk—a very serious talk.” Even then she did not in the least suspect the subject of that very serious talk. She moved on contentedly, walking by his side, with her well-set head lifted a little, listening to the birds’ songs ; and his shambling old figure serving as a foil to her stateliness and grace. “‘ Beatrice,” he began solemnly ; “attention, my dear, if you please.” She had lifted her hand to a sweet-briar bush to pull off a twig, but at these words she let it drop meekly at her side and turned her sweet face towards him with a deferential air. “‘ Beatrice, I received a communication this morning which has surprised and annoyed me beyond measure. Yesterday, it seems, you openly announced the fact of your engagement; an engage- ment which must fill every well-wisher of yours with the deepest regret.” He paused, feeling that he had made a good beginning and expressed himself with calmness and dignity. She was startled for a moment ; it had not occurred to her that Miss Lindrick would repeat their conversation to Mr. Redburn. But, after all, why should he be kept in ignorance of a thing that he would have to know sooner or later? She answered him in a tone of perfect composure : “T am sorry that anyone should regret my happiness.” comicbooks.com