The Argosy — page 324: what you’re looking at

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

Sir Cecil’s Rival. 305 duty like a man. Iam almost, but not quite cleaned out, and I pro- pose to finish the process here,” rejoined Thorpe. Nothing could have fallen out better. “My sister,” said the Reverend Frederick. Then turning to the young lady he added: ‘‘ Ethel, Sir Cecil Thorpe is anxious to get rid of some burdensome cash.” Having performed which ceremony, Mr. Spenser went his way. At the informal introduction two soft dark eyes were lifted shyly for a moment, and a faint sea-shell pink tinted the most innocent, lovely face it had ever been Sir Cecil’s lot to behold, as Miss Spenser gravely inclined her head. Then her slim hands sought for, and laid out before Sir Cecil Thorpe smokiig caps and such other articles as might be supposed to be useful to a young man, in a quiet almost apologetic manner, and without one word of the fluent recommenda- tion that would have fallen from Miss Dudley’s lips under the same circumstances. ‘What am I to buy? Please tell me.” ‘‘What do you wish for?” asked Miss Spenser, in a soft low voace that matched the tender grace of her face. ‘‘'There is such an embarrassment of riches that I shall leave my- self in your hands; have you any conscience ?” ‘‘T should have none to-day.” ‘‘ Have you made heaps of money ?” ‘No, I am rather unsuccessful. It is my fault, I daresay. My: mother should have been here to help me, but she is laid up with. a bad headache.” ‘Indeed !” said Sir Cecil, upon the whole rather glad of the old. lady's absence, and wishing Miss Spenser would again raise the broad white lids that so jealously curtained her lovely eyes. “‘T am stupid at this sort of thing. Do you think [I shall sell half?” asked Miss Spenser, eyeing her piles of wares with an air of pensive speculation. ‘‘T don’t know; but the case looks pretty hopeless, does it not? Never mind, it is quiet to chat; I’ve been knocked almost into little bits in the crowd: I assure you that I’ve sustained severe injuries.. May Icome round there to rest?” asked Thorpe eagerly, pointing to some chairs behind Miss Spenser’s stall. “No, certainly not,” answered Ethel, laughing softly. “Tt is very hard; I’m sure my exhaustion must be written upon my countenance.” His subterfuge—if subterfuge it were—was successful. Miss Spenser’s glance was instinctively raised to his face, and Thorpe took a deep satisfying draught of the beauty of her eyes. “You don’t look very bad,” answered the girl after surveying his handsome, stalwart looks. ‘At all events, you may not‘have one of these chairs ; but there are some benches in the middle of the room.” ‘Thanks ; but I prefer my physical sufferings to banishment.” VOL, XXX, x COMICOOOKS.GO an