The Argosy — page 73: what you’re looking at

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

03 RICHARD VAN WERTER. T was a low, sweet voice which -floated through the darkness on the quiet air, and Roy Gilbert, hearing it, roused himself from the lafy, dream-like state into which he had fallen, seated on the balcony alone with his cigar, and rose to his feet. ‘Miss Van Werter,” he said softly to himself, “where can she have been?” And then he went quickly down the steps and toward the shrubbery, in the direction from which the voice seemed to come. “You look like a veritable pond-lily yourself, Miss Van Werter,” he said as he joined the slender, white-robed figure coming up the garden- path in the deepening twilight. ‘ May I ask where you have been ? ” ‘See !” she answered, holding out her hands, laden with a fragrant burden. ‘J have been on the pond.” ‘‘So far! You have not been alone?” She heard the little tremor in his voice, and answered with a low laugh, “Yes, alone. It 1s very pleasant, Mr. Gilbert.” ‘You ought not to have gone;” he answered. “ The boat is unsafe, unless skilfully managed. You mnst not do so again.” They were near the house now, and Roy Gilbert, seeing a tall figure coming rapidly towards them, stopped short. ‘“‘ Here is your cousin, Miss Van Werter.” The new comer spoke quickly, almost harshly. “Ts that you, Gertrude ?” “ Yes—it is I.” Unconsciously there was a little tone of weariness — in Gertrude Van Werter’s voice ; it was as though she were tired of being “hunted up ” and called to account. ‘ Did you want me, Richard ?” ‘You are very careless to stay out so late,” he said, touching her light dress. ‘‘ Your clothes are damp already.” ‘Don’t !” she said, almost sharply, drawing away from him, “ The dew cannot harm me. You will crush my lilies, Richard,” She went in—her white dress trailing behind her ; her hair, slipping from its fastening, veiling her shoulders; her broad hat hanging by its nbbons from her arm ; and the two men followed her. How beautiful she looked as she stood distributing her treasures among the eager group which surrounded her. The bright light shone full upon her—on the glittering waves of her loosened hair, on her fair face, with her delicacy of form and colouring, on her slender figure won- derfully graceful in every attitude and movement, on her white dress, soiled and tor, and clinging around her in damp folds. “Three for Miss Osgood, because she loves them. One for Captain Sergeant, because, although he doesn’t care for them, he must not be slighted. Only one for you, Richard, because you scolded me. There |! are you satisfied ? you have them all.” COMIC OOOKS. EO