The Argosy — page 149: what you’re looking at

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

A Crisis in his Life. — 135 “Good-night, Johnny,” he quietly said, without any appearance of resentment; and went into his room. The next day was Palm Sunday. Tod lay in bed with a splitting headache, could not lift his head from the pillow, and his skin was as sallow as an old gander’. ‘Glad to hear it,” said Mr. Brandon, when I told him ; “it will give him a quiet day for reflection.” A surprise awaited me that morning, and Mr. Brandon also. Miss Deveen was at Oxford, with Helen and Anna Whitney. They had arrived the evening before, and meant to stay and go up with Bill and with us. I did not tell Tod: in fact, he seemed too ill to be spoken to, his head covered with the bedclothes. . You can’t see many a finer sight than the Broad Walk presents on the evening of Palm Sunday. Everybody promenades there, from the Dean downwards. Our party went together: Miss Deveen, Helen, and Anna; Bull, I, and Mr. Brandon. We were in the middle of the walk ; and it was at its fullest, when Tod came up. | He was better, but looked worn and ill. A flush of sur- prise came into his face when he saw who we had with us, and he shook hands with the ladies nearly in silence. “‘ Oxford has not mended your looks, Mr. Todhetley,” said Miss Deveen. . ““T have one of my bad headaches to-day,” he answered. ‘“‘I get them now and then.” ‘The group of us were turning to walk on, when in that moment there approached Sophie Chalk. Sophie in a glistening blue silk, and flowers, and jingling ornaments, and kid gloves. She was coming up to us as bold as brass with her fascinating smile, when she saw Miss Deveen, and stopped short. Miss Deveen passed on without notice of any kind ; Helen really did not see her; Anna, always gentle and kind, slightly bowed. Even then Madam Sophie’s native impudence came to her aid. She saw they meant to shun her, and she nodded and smiled at Tod, and made as though she would stop him for a chat. He took off his cap to her, and went on. Anna's delicate face had flushed, and his own was white enough for its coffin. Miss Deveen held Tod’s hand in parting. “I am so glad to have met you again,” she cordially said; ‘‘we are all glad. We shall see you often, I hope, until we go up together. And all you young people are coming to me for a few days in the Easter holidays. Friends. cannot afford too long absences from one another in this short life. Good-bye; and mind you get nd of your headache for to-morrow. There ; shake hands with Helen and Anna.” He did as he was bid. Helen was gay as usual; Anna rather shy. Her pretty blue eyes glanced up at Tod’s, and he smiled for the first time that day. Sophie Chalk might have fascinated three parts of his heart away, but there was a corner in it remaining’ for Anna Whitney. COMIC OOOKS. EO mn —_)