The Argosy — page 33: what you’re looking at

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

The Mystery of Allan Grale. 3 “Not that I know of,” she replied. ‘He does not tell me; he is quite silent to me. My poor uncle used to be uneasy about both my brothers of late. I remember he spoke anxiously of them on the very moming of his seizure ; and his words have come back upon me often since.” “I suppose Edgar has not been treading in the steps of some of those fellows at Oxford, and got involved in any money difficulties ? ” said the Doctor, cautiously. Maria looked up astonished ; her innocent fancies did not run in that line. “No,” she said. ‘Oh no.” Dr. Palmer did not question her about the fear she had hinted of to Agnes ; the time had hardly come for that; he must try to get a little more information himself first ; though he would greatly have liked to know whence Maria had derived it. ‘“T wish you would see Edgar, Dr. Palmer, and-—if you can—ask what it is that is amiss with him. I do not think it is his health that is wrong ; I think it is the mind.” ‘“ Young fellows like your brother Edgar will take life tragically at times,” laughed the Doctor, who did not wish to alarm her. The laugh ended rather abruptly with the thought that the passions and follies of youth often sully their waters for ever, before the angels come to trouble them. The Doctor had known many sad stories. Pure and good himself, yet with a mind wide enough to comprehend the frail- ties of human nature, that drag it down to the lowest depths, even while it would fain aspire towards the divine, he was one of those born-confessors who are to be found within all creeds. He went in quest of Edgar Vivian. During his conversation with Maria, a slight memory had suddenly revived—the memory of that bright autumn morning when Allan had somehow eluded meeting her and himself in the road. He found Edgar in the morning-room, seated before the fire. The Doctor rallied him on his idleness, and bade him come out and walk with him—he had something to say to him. Edgar rose to obey, neither with pleasure nor alacrity ; but with the mechanical obedience of one who feels that the point will be carried whether or no. Directly they started, Dr. Palmer went straight to the point at once. ‘‘T have a message to you from Mr. Grale,” he said. ‘“‘ He wishes to know when you last saw Allan.” ) A curious expression flitted across the young man’s face. The Doctor could not translate it. Indeed it was too fleeting. It changed and it was gone. ‘¢T can scarcely remember,” he answered. ‘‘ We used to meet occasionally. I did not go about much, after my uncle was taken lL.” “ But just before he left home, you wrote a note to him asking him GOMMGIO@ S (C(O) mn