The Argosy — page 155: what you’re looking at

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

142 Secret as the Grave. sive sympathy. Lena testified her affection in many ways for him. ympathy y way For this he had waited long, very long, and almost without hope, so | that the sweet knowledge carried him far back, and he felt the buoyancy of youth. They talked of their marriage. Edward’s face was shaded for a moment. ‘‘My mother is near fourscore, and drooping fast,” he said; “we need not wait long for the old home.” He stood yet in awe of the stately Margaret, and knew that the pride of birth would cause her to say ‘‘ Nay.” He himself well understood that feeling, but his hesitation was suddenly removed. An enquiry appeared in the Sfectatfor relating to the disappearance of a girl from Canterbury in, or about, the year 1688. ‘The details were such that Edward immediately communicated with the family of de la Maur, and the discovery was made that the quondam gipsy girl was none other than the destitute orphan of French refugees, bearing a name (D’Arcy) ever distinguished since the wars of King Henry of Navarre. Edward at once told the good news to his ailing mother, and declared his intentions with respect to Lena. ‘To his surprise she answered, ‘‘ Myson, I have long known your inclination. A mother’s eyes reach to the heart, and when you dissembled about Lena being serving-maid I guessed the truth, and was sad; but now I wish for the marriage, for John will take the near-hand house, and wed Margaret, leaving you here all alone when I am gone.” | Three months later, when the golden grain was first falling to the sickle, and the lark soared above the earth with a song of freedom as from the spirit land, Margaret B came to her grave “ina full age, like a shock of corn cometh in his season,” and the deep vault in Mersham Church received another inmate. Afterwards, when the days of mourning were passed, the happiest of all days seemed at hand for Edward B——. The wedding was fixed, the familiar rooms were adorned for another mistress: all things were ready. Lena had just returned from a visit to her newly discovered relations in Canterbury, and Edward hastened to the cottage to complete the arrangements for the wedding. I picture them on that last evening almost in awe of their great happiness, so strange and tempest-tossed had been their lonely life. She, with sprightly eagerness, planning a hundred things to throw the future into sunlight, he, with thoughtful mien, answering wisely, content to hear her voice. He left early, and on the morrow, on the way to ask his friend Mr. Peter Norwood to marry them, called at the cottage. Lena had been awake all night, and was depressed in spirits, and very poorly. Edward attributed this to previous excite- ment. A little rest and all would be well. Leaving Sarah Horne to minister to her wants, he came home; but the large old rooms increased his loneliness, and he shortly returned to the cottage. Lifting the catch of the road gate, a thoughtless boy, eager with the EOPMICLIOO; KS, (EO)