The Argosy — page 273: what you’re looking at

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

The Master of Greylands. 255 He was so speaking only to cover his real concern. The project was no less displeasing to him than to his father. ‘“ You do not mean this, Mary Ursula!” But the grave look of her earnest face effectually answered him. ‘“‘Tt is I, who shall miss you most,” cried Ethel. ‘Oh, can nothing be done ?” “Nothing,” said Mary, smiling. ‘Our paths, Ethel, will probably be very different in hfe. You will marry, and social ties will form about you. I ” she broke off suddenly. “TI intend to marry Ethel myself,” said Harry, kicking back a large live coal that flew far out into the hearth. ‘‘Be quiet, Harry,” said Ethel, a shade of annoyance in her tone. “ Why, you know it’s true,” he returned,. without looking at her. ‘True! When we are like brother and sister!” Miss Castlemaine glanced from one to the other. She did not know how to take this. That Harry liked Ethel and was very fond of paying her all the attention he could, told nothing; for he did the same by other young ladies. ‘‘ Tt was only last week I asked her to fix the day,” said Harry. “ And I told you to go and talk nonsense elsewhere ; not to me,” retorted Ethel, her tone betraying her real vexation. ‘If you won’t have me, Ethel, you'll dnve me to desperation. I might go off and marry one of the Grey Sisters in revenge. It should be Sister Ann. She is a charming picture ; one to take a young man’s heart by storm.” Mary Ursula looked keenly at him: in all this there was a semblance of something not real. It struck her that he was wanting to make it appear he wished for Ethel, when in fact he did not. ‘‘ Harry,” she cried, speaking upon impulse, “ you have not, I hope been falling in love with anybody undesirable ? ” ‘‘ But I have,” said Harry, his face flushing. ‘ Don’t I tell you who it is P—Sister Ann.” ‘You are very random, you know, Harry,” said Miss Castlemaine, slowly. “You talk to young ladies without meaning anything—but they may not detect that. Take care you do not go too far some day, and find yourself in a mesh.” Harry Castlemaine turned his bright face on his cousin. ‘I never talk seriously but to one person, Mary Ursula. And that’s Ethel.” He left the room with the last words, saying something about Com- modore Teague. Mary spoke to Ethel. “* My dear—if you have no objection to confide in me—+és there anything between you and Harry.” ‘¢Nothing, Mary,” was the answer, and Ethel blushed the soft blush of girlish modesty as she said it. “ Last year he teased me very much, making me often angry; but latterly he has been better. The idea COMIC OOOKS. EO in —_)