The Argosy — page 196: what you’re looking at

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

180 The Master of Greylands. ‘‘ You—think—it was heart disease ?” questioned Mary Ursula, in a dread, imploring whisper. ‘‘ Do you read/y think it, Mr. Hill ?” “ My dear, I am sure of it. Quite sure. And I only wonder now he did not die in my arms this afternoon in the bank parlour when the pain and fluttering were upon him,” added Thomas Hill, half- choked with hisemotion. “There was agreat clamour with the cre- ditors, and it ternfied him more than I thought. The fnght must have struck to his heart, and killed him.” She sighed deeply. The same appalled look of terror clung to her face. The reassurance did not seem to bring her the comfort that it ought. For Mary Castlemaine had overheard that one covert word of suspicion breathed by the medical men: and she had, and always would have, the awful doubt lying upon her heart. It was a dreadful night for her, poor bankrupt girl—bankrupt in happiness from that hour. Mrs. Webb persuaded her to go to bed at last ; and there she lay, getting through the hours as the unhappy do get through them. But, miserable though it was, it would have been far more so could she have seen, asin a mirror, what had taken place that night at Greylands in the Frar’s Keep—the cause of the dis- appearance of Anthony Castlemaine. CHAPTER IX. A CURIOUS STORY. A BRIGHT and cheery morning witha soft westerly breeze. The flowing sea sparkled in the sunlight ; the little boats danced upon its waves ; the birds on the land sang merry songs to one another, cheated into a belief that spring had come in. There had been commotion in the streets of Stilborough on the previous day, and especially around the banker’s door, as we have already seen; but that commotion was as nothing, compared with the stir that was this morning agitating Greylands. For a report was running wildly about, that some mysterious and unaccountable disaster had happened to Anthony Castlemaine. Anthony Castlemaine had disappeared. There was no other word, save that, applicable to the event: he had disappeared. And as Grey- lands had taken a warm fancy to the young man, it rose up in some agitation. Almost with morning light the village was being searched for him and inquiry made. People turned out of their cottages, fisher- men left their boats, some of the Grey Sisters even came forth from the nunnery : all eagerly asking what, and how much, was true. The originator of the rumour was John Bent. He did not seem to know a great deal more than other people; but nobody, save him- self, knew anything at all. The Dolphin Inn was besieged ; work was at a standstill; Mrs. Bent allowed even her servant Molly tocstand istening, with her arms akimbo, unreproved. ECoOMmicloooks (C(O) —_) mM