The Argosy — page 31: what you’re looking at

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

THE ARGOS Y. FULY, 1885. aan es == me amy ——= — ~ Eee» EE Ts —— -~ —_ THE MYSTERY OF ALLAN GRALE. — CHAPTER XXIV. WASTE OF TIME. [ REARE enough looked Dering Court on that November day— so thought Dr. Palmer as he approached it. When one has dismal spirits at these dismal seasons, it rather tries the faith to believe in joy and June flowers. The former seems receding in the Past, as the latter are decaying under the sodden leaves. Dr. Palmer was about to pay his daily visit to his patients, General Vivian and Maria; and he was also intending to question Edgar upon the matters which had been talked of the previous evening between himself and Mr. Grale. If Allan Grale and Edgar Vivian had really joined hands in any evil doing, then Maria, the Doctor suspected, must know of it. And now that he himself knew the real mystery and secrecy surrounding Allan’s departure, he almost questioned whether Maria had not some private grounds for her fear that the young man had committed suicide. Or was there only some subtle instinct in her mind that told her so ? Dr. Palmer was not one of those scientific men who seem to think we have touched the limits of all knowledge. He was not sure that there are no powers lying latent in all humanity, to be here and there abnormally exhibited before the time comes for their harmonious development. Neither was he sure that some minds may not have powers of insight or foresight as superior to others as an acrobat’s limbs are more nimble than other legs, or a rope-walker’s head steadier than ordinary brains. Within the house, the wide rooms looked deserted ; the very fires seemed lonely, like loving hearts wasting in solitude. The Doctor’s professional visit to the General was brief enough. He Was progressing very favourably, but much conversation on his part was still forbidden, and Dr. Palmer and Mrs. Vivian never had much VOL. XL, B GOMMGIO@ S (C(O)