The Argosy — page 223: what you’re looking at

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

An Every-Day Story. aE parting clasp, her eyes were still burning with the reflected light of his —those wonderful lustrous eyes that surely had rarely had their com- peers—her ears listening still to the last melody of his voice: and few voices were so melodious as Bertram Payne’s. Few men had been gifted with beauty such as his—beauty of face and of form. Hand- some, slender, graceful, his features of a perfect type, he was, she thought, fit to win a princess, and proud enough to be the peer of anything earthly—of herself, who had once been haughty, even to him, as it was Rosalie Halcroft’s disposition to be; but she was humble enough at heart now, in the deep love she bore him. She regretted that she had not shown it more to-night, this love; that she had not broken through the bounds of her reserve and pride, inborn and hard to conquer—for one who was surely worthy of the trust she felt but could not speak. ‘To-night he seemed more than ever dear, more than usually fond and tender, for he had been absent for several weeks, and had changed for the better even in that httle tme—grown more manly and more energetic, more determined and more hopeful ; and that unspoken passion which softened his eyes and mellowed his voice, would, she instinctively felt, have found words to-night but for her coldness. | She did not yet go in; her breath still came quickly, her cheeks burned, her hands trembled, and her heart throbbed audibly. She could not meet the inquiries and greetings of the four noisy boys, her brothers, whom she heard conning their lessons beyond the open door, and ready to be disturbed from their unwelcome task by her entrance; so she lingered at the gate, and dreamed. Rosalie found material for her thoughts in the sweet remembrance of the short past, since she had known Bertram Payne. She recalled the incidents of their first acquaintance, the pretexts upon which he had met her, the trifling tokens that betrayed his love, the secret, gradual growth of the power that drew their hearts together, making them nearer and dearer to each other than all the world beside. Tull at last they stood, as they had for many weeks now, lingering on the borders of the enchanted land, trembling with delightful awe, yet unable to pass those barriers of silence and reserve which in true love always attends youth and inexperience. But this silence was weakening with every sweet, embarrassed meeting, and ready to fall before one impulsive word—a word which neither had spoken to-night. But to-night the confession had trembled on his lips, which she half- feared, half-wished, to hear, and her coldness had driven it back: but not for long. A new light of hope and courage was shining in his splendid eyes, a new determination curved those beautiful lips ; lines of thought and care marked his young face, and made it more admirable in her sight, as it was more strong and manly and incomprehensible. She herself was no longer a child: she felt older in these few eventful EOMRniilElooe SS (CO) o A