The Argosy — page 195: what you’re looking at

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

The Master of Greylands. 179 “’ Death / come now, don’t talk in that uncomfortable way,” retorted the butler ; not, however, feeling very comfortable as he saidit. ‘“‘ What should bring death to the house in this sudden way? He is warm too. Do please ring the bell, sir.” The doctors came without delay, two of them ; for Mr. Blake-Gordon brought one, and Stephen another. But nothing could be done. It was indeed death : and, the medical men thought it had taken place the best part of an hour before. The great banker of Stilborough, Peter Cas- tlemaine, had ceased to exist. But there was one momentous, dreadful question to be solved—what had caused the death? Had it come by God’s hand and will ?—or had Peter Castlemaine himself wrought it? The surgeons expressed no opinion at present. They talked in an undertone, but did not let the world share in their councils. Thomas Hill overheard one word, and it nearly sent him frantic. ‘‘ How dare you say it, gentlemen? Suicide! Mr. Peter Castle- maine would no more lift his hand against himself than you would. I would stake all the poor bit of life I've got left—which won’t be much now—that it is his heart that haskilled him. This very afternoon he complained of a pain there ; a strange fluttering, he called it; and he looked white enough for a ghost. He told me he had felt the same pain and fluttering at times before. There cannot be a doudi, gentle- men, that 1t was his heart.” The doctors nodded, seemingly in assent. One thing appeared to be indisputable—that if the death was natural, no other cause than the heart could be assigned for it. The face of the dead man was calm and unruffied as that of an infant. But, one of the doctors whispered something about an “ odour.” Mary Ursula came into the room when the medical men had gone. No tears were in her eyes; she was as one stunned, paralyzed: unable in her shock of bewilderment to take in the whole truth. She had deemed the room empty : but Thomas Hill turned round from the sofa at her entrance. ‘He has had a good deal of trouble lately, my poor dear master, and it has been too much for him and broken his heart,” he whispered in a wailing tone, the tears. running down his cheeks. ‘God knows I’d have saved him from it if I could, my dear young lady: I’d willingly have died for him.” ‘¢ What kind of trouble has it been?” asked Mary Ursula, letting the old man take her hands, and gazing at him with a terrified and im- ploring countenance. ‘Money trouble, money trouble,” answered the clerk. ‘He was not used to it, and it has broken his heart. Oh, my dear, don’t grieve more . than you can help !—and don’t think about the future, for, all.I have shall be yours.” COMIC OOOKS. EO mn —_)