The Argosy — page 32: what you’re looking at

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

a a ie 2 | The Mystery of Allan Grale. to say to each other. But she began to talk this morning of the Grales ; asking where young Grale was, and what he went away for: had he gone travelling for the business ? Doctor Palmer looked at her ; he felt quite sure that she had he-rd a rumour of there being something crooked about Allan’s departur.. He thought of poor Maria in her darkened chamber: had this cold woman been talking with herr She would not let him escape by silence. She repeated that sup- position about travelling for the business. **T believe he has gone on business of his own, madam,” said the Doctor. He tried to speak carelessly and was conscious that he did not succeed. Mrs. Vivian gave a little, low laugh. “I doubt if Allan’s business will ever be as profitable as his father’s,” she said. From the General’s room, Dr. Palmer went on to Maria’s. He found her alone. Her condition was unchanged. There was still the same puzzling absence of any organic disease, combined with a state of ner- vous irritation and depression, which was certainly a soil in which any disease might soon take root. She could scarcely eat, she could scarcely sleep ; and she was wearing to a shadow. Naturally enough, she had never alluded to Allan Grale to Dr. Palmer. She had never owned to any cause foranxiety. She did so to-day for the first time. After speaking a little about her own condition, the Doctor recom- mending various things, Maria mentioned her old fears about her brother George ; he was looking so thin and pale; worse than ever. _ And yet he would not own to being ill, neither would he assure her he was quite well. He only said that he must take a change as soon as possible, and then he should be all right. “Just what I am always saying,” observed Dr. Palmer. ‘ Assoon as the General can be moved, you should all go South together. And that will be very soon.” “I need not go,” said Maria, rather wildly. “ It is not change that I want—I know that—sometimes one may understand one’s own ail- ments better thana doctor can. I said to George only yesterday that he ought to take a change—to go South ; upon which he answered very quickly that South would not suit him, and when he went he should go to the North. But—I think,” added Maria nervously—“ I think Edgar wants change more even than George. He seems to have some great trouble upon him.” ‘¢ What is the trouble, Miss Vivian ? ” Maria shook her head. “Ts it connected in any way with Allan Grale ?” Maria started. ‘‘ Why do you ask that, Dr. Palmer 2?” “The thought occurred to me,” was the careless answer. ‘ Allan's own people were in some doubt or trouble about him—as to where he was, I understand: his friend Edgar may have been the same. Is it so, do you think P ” COMIC OOlKS.CO