The Argosy — page 300: what you’re looking at

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

How Kenrick Married Fuliet Eustis. 233 they will not be friends if they think less of me for doing a little honest work.” For ‘‘ friends,” reader, substitute ‘‘ Ralph Kenrick.” If Kenrick had been a declared lover, if Miriam had been actually engaged to him, there would have been no such hesitancy on her part ; she would have referred Rhoda’s plan to him, and would have abided by his decision. Mr. Kenrick had come to Plainford about the middle of the pre- ceding winter, to recuperate after a long and weakening illness, and as the relatives with whom he then made it his home were well acquainted with Miriam, the invalid lawyer and the young school- mistress soon became friends. ‘They had many tastes in common, and as both were heart-whole it was not at all surprising that their friendship should appear to be ripening into love and prospective matrimony. | But weeks grew into months, and although Kenrick monopolised all Miriam’s spare hours, and seemed to be jealous of even her girl friends, especially Rhoda, he did not speak the love he evidently felt. To Miriam this constant companionship, this protecting affection, was very sweet. ‘That he loved her she could not doubt; every look and tone breathed it: so she enjoyed the present and rested content with the thought that when he saw fit to do so he would utter the decisive words that more than once had trembled on his tongue. A few days before Rhoda suggested this trip to the White Mountains, Kenrick had left Plainford very suddenly. He sent a few lines to Miriam saying that he was obliged to go to the Pacific coast on important business, but hoped to see her again early in the autumn. What this business was no one, except perhaps his relatives, had any idea; and as these relatives had decidedly objected to his excessive devotion to Miriam, “only a poor governess, and there are so many wealthy girls in town, younger, prettier, and more attractive,” they murmured, they vouchsafed her no explanation. Judge then, if you can, of the multiplicity of sentiments which surged in Miriam’s bosom when she saw Ralph Kenrick enter the dining-room of the Sahna House the day that the party of notables arrived. He was not travelling with them, but had accidentally come, with one or two friends, at the same time. Fortunately it was not Miriam’s duty to wait on him (she knew she could not have done that), as she was stationed at the table behind his chair ; but she could see him, could observe that his long journey had vastly improved his appearance, and could hear his voice, and this was enough for the present. He ate his dinner leisurely, and did not seem to beat all conscious that he was the cynosure of many bright eyes. Men of any age, but particularly young men, are decidedly in the minority at the American summer resorts; and the advent of a tall, good-looking, well-dressed, well-mannered man, with no visible female encumbrances, opens up a ECORnNIClOOKS (C©)