The Argosy — page 308: what you’re looking at

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

Fack Laybourne’s Inheritance. 289 that he should have the greatest objection to fight, but not the smallest one to horsewhip him. On this the Prince, probably mindful of his opponent’s youth and inches, elected for a retreat in preference to a beating. ‘‘ He has sent down to Sepey to order a carriage, and before two hours he will be off. I told him that if letters came for him I would forward them to any address he liked to mention. But as he only smiled superciliously, it is clear that his pretended need of roubles was a flight of Calmuck fancy,” wound up Jack. *‘ So he is really going,” exclaimed Rita, adding gratefully to her cousin: ‘‘ What should I have done without you?” **'You see, you want someone to protect you, for all your pluck,” he replied, looking very much inclined to kiss her. ‘The real truth is,” said I, ‘‘that you ought to have put the matter in Jack’s hands from the very first.” | “Yes! Why didn’t you? You know I am your cousin,” observed Jack. ‘You are my cousin, of course,” said Rita, blushing rosy red. Well?” said the young man. “Well?” said the young lady, and got no further. Tack, you are a greater goose than I always thought you,” inter- posed Kate. ‘‘ Anybody but a British officer, six-foot-two in his boots, would understand that you and Rita are too much cousins.” “ Unfortunately we cannot make ourselves anything less,” replied Jack, with much gravity. And the obvious rejoinder remained unspoken—for the moment. | But one evening about a week later, Rita and her cousin lingered so long in the starlit garden that my propriety took alarm, and I thought I would refresh myself by a little turn. Jack no sooner caught sight of me than, to my infinite discom- fiture, he darted forward and took me into a fervid embrace. “‘T am sure I am very glad,” I said, when the cause of this recep- tion had been explained to me. ‘But, I own, I cannot guess why you should think it necessary to kiss me.” “I beg your pardon,” said Jack, merrily. ‘You can surely, however, make allowance for a fellow who has just recovered his inheritance.” VOL, XXX. tk gy COMMlclooo© SS (©) im