The Argosy — page 329: what you’re looking at

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

Archibald Lestcs’s Advertisement. 311 borough, sleep there, and call on Mrs. Moreton again the following afternoon. They both spent half the night in consideration, and came to the same conclusion: that it was a wife and not a housekeeper that he wanted. He returned punctually the following day, and as he walked through the rickety gate, and up the little garden, he saw a lady and a little girl in white, digging at a flower-bed. They did not appear to notice him, so he ventured to look at them. He remarked little but the white dresscs, and a couple of broad, shabby straw-hats. Mrs. Moreton was almost less at her ease than she had been the pre- vious day. Neithershe nor Lester could resolve about the housekeeper, They sat opposite one another, and talked over the matter, but could come to no decision. At last a ringing child’s laugh echoed from the garden, and aclear voice exclaimed, ‘‘ You naughty Poppy!” Mrs. Moreton jumped up, and looked out of the window. ‘““TIt is my little girl and my sister, sir. Edith! Poppy! I want you.” - In came a bright, handsome, dark-eyed young lady of may-be five and twenty, with a fresh rose in her dress ; and a laughing, blue-eyed beauty of five, with a very dirty frock. What a picture for a Celebs in search of a wife! They started at the sight of a stranger, and he bowed awkwardly. | Mrs. Moreton had only told her sister that A. L. could not make up his mind, and was to call agam. She had been busy with plans, and having a headache, or feigning one, had asked Edith to keep Poppy employed in the garden. Women are wonderfully diplomatic. ‘fs it A. L.?” whispered Edith, for Mrs. Moreton had not asked Archibald his name. “Yes,” he said courageously. ‘ My name is Lester.” ‘Mr. Lester will stay and take some tea, Edith,” said Mrs. Moreton. Will you make it.” He declined, apologised, and was overruled ; and Edith and Poppy disappeared. Mrs. Moreton employed the interval in eloquent praises of her sister. Archibald was scarcely conscious that the tea was poor, the milk blue, the butter well scraped on the bread. He only saw a large vase of roses on the table; and presiding at the tea-tray one of the loveliest women in the world. If she would but become his wife ! what a happy life they might lead together ! What an adornment she would be to his home! What a bright sunbeam to its now silent, cheerless rooms! He was a poet at heart, and throughout the meal the words of another and better known poet kept ringing through his brain :—“ A thing of beauty is a joy for ever.” Mrs. Moreton would now and then glance from him to Edith ; but the one was generally looking into his tea-cup, and the other at Poppy, whose large eyes and dimpled mouth were widely opened on the guest. . COMIC OOOKS. EO 1