The Argosy — page 58: what you’re looking at

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

28 A Story of the Day. you to strength. So I have been thinking I had best make my arrangements at once, and get my application for an exchange sent off by the next mail.” ‘“ Have you settled what regiment you will try to exchange into?” she asked. “Ves. Into the —th,” he answered. ‘I think it could be done without trouble. Ferrars is in it, and I know he is wild to get moved abroad, no matter where. The last I heard of his regiment it was quartered at Dover, and seemed likely to remain there. It would be the very place for you, Blanche; the fresh breezes of the channel would soon bring back your roses, and ” Captain Douglas was interrupted by the entrance of Dr. Spencer, who had looked in every few days to see Mrs. Douglas sjnce her health began to fail. The Captain drew him aside when he was leaving, and told him what he had resolved upon. ‘‘T am heartily glad to hear it,” said Dr. Spencer: “Ido not hesitate to tell you that change of climate is the best hope for your wife’s restoration, if not life. I should have ordered her to England long ago, had it not been that she so dreaded and shrank from the separation from you; and I feared the fretting would do her more harm than the climate.” ‘* But she cannot travel until the child is born, can she ? ” ‘“‘ Of course not ; and you must not leave her here; pray, bear that in mind, when arranging your exchange.” ‘*t know, I know. I should not think of leaving her. I shallsend in my application at once. It will take some hittle time to arrange matters, and I can easily apply for a short leave, before joining another regiment. I want to be ready to take my wife home as soon as you shall say that it is safe for her to travel.” The Doctor nodded. He was turning to depart, when Captain Douglas touched his arm to detain him: his voice trembled, and his eyes were dimmed, strong and brave man though he was, as he spoke the question he wished to put. “Tell me the truth, Doctor; I would rather know it. Do you think there 1s a reasonable hope that she will get through her trial safely ? ” There was a pause, before Dr. Spencer answered, and when he did, a slight hesitation and want of confidence might have been observed in his tone. ‘“‘ Captain Douglas, I hope for the very best,” he said. ‘I cannot conceal from you that there is some danger from the excessive weak- ness to which this climate has reduced her; but on the other hand she is young, and it is in her favour that she is evidently very happy, and wishes with all her heart to live. I need hardly caution you,” he continued, ‘‘to be most careful to keep every worry and annoyance from her, however slight; anything on her mind would be almost certainly fatal.” COMIC OOlKS.CO