The Argosy — page 312: what you’re looking at

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

Two Dreams. 293 take my place while I am absent. I am sure he will do his best to please you, sir.” There being nothing further to settle, his master dismissed Simmons. For a few minutes Colonel Holt pondered over the matter and the man’s strange manner, then muttering something to the effect that servants’ ways were past finding out, he dismissed the subject from his thoughts and became engrossed in business letters of importance. At luncheon, much to Mrs. Holt’s amazement, a strange servant was in attendance. ‘‘ Where is Simmons ?” she asked. “Oh,” exclaimed Colonel Holt, suddenly remembering he had not enlightened his wife, ‘“‘this is Simmons’s brother, who has taken his place for a week or two. I have been so busy I forgot to tell you.” Mrs. Holt asked no further questions till the man had left the room. ‘Then she said: “‘ My dear, when you allowed Simmons to leave, did you remember that Mrs. Perceval and Effie were coming to-day, and that we have a dinner-party to-morrow ?” “Yes, I did not forget, but the man would go. I could get nothing out of the fellow, except that he must go this very day, and would return by the twentieth.” “But what reason did he give for such extraordinary conduct P” “None whatever. He looked miserably ul and changed, as pale as a ghost. I never saw such a scared object in my life.” “Do you think he had been drinking P” ‘Oh no, he was as sober as a judge. Never mind, his brother will do very well, no doubt; he’s butler at Beauchamp, and looks a decent sort of fellow. By-the-by, what time is the carriage to be at the station to meet the Percevals ?” Before Mrs. Holt could reply, Simmons No. 2 appeared, bearing a telegram. “This has just arrived, madam.” “A telegram! Some change of plans, I suppose, on the part of the Percevals,” said Mrs. Holt, opening the envelope quickly. ‘‘Oh, how tiresome! Listen: ‘So sorry we cannot come. Effie has one of her nervous attacks. Will write all particulars.’ ” ‘Well, that’s no end of a bore. Plague take these girls with their nervous attacks! Here we've the nuisance of a dinner-party of natives, to-morrow all to no purpose.” “They must have been asked some time or other, my dear,” said Mrs. Holt, mildly ; ‘‘but it’s very provoking, I own.” “And so Miss Effie and her wonderful diamonds are not forth- coming,” said her husband, getting up and lighting a cigar. ‘‘ Well, I’m off. I think I'll take the dog-cart and drive to the station. No doubt there will be fish and other things to be fetched.” And Colonel Holt sauntered out. On his return, to his great surprise, Simmons himself met him at the hall door. ‘* You back again! What does this mean ?” The man looked confused, stammering out, “I—I—thought connicloooks (C(O) vn