The Argosy — page 302: what you’re looking at

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

How Kenrick Married Fuliet Eustis. 285 Miriam gave her all the information that she herself possessed, and added : ‘Pray do not mention this. He seemed to wish it kept a secret, and if he chooses to go about as a bachelor it is not necessary for us to spoil his sport.” In the course of the afternoon Kenrick accidentally met Rhoda in one of the corridors, and was astonished at her frigid greeting, Re- gardless of his outstretched hand and cordial smile she walked swiftly past him, noticing his salutation only by a stately ‘‘ Good-morning.” Kenrick was so nonplussed that he did not exhibit or really feel much surprise when he also met Miriam. At first the latter thought she would simply bow and pass on, but pride suggested a different course; she politely clasped his proffered hand, asked and replied to the usual commonplace questions regarding his and her present and past health, and then had to explain that she was not a guest but a servitor at the Sahna House. “IT presume you will return to your home by the frst of Septem- ber?” he asked. ‘Yes; the schools re-open then, and we shall exchange a nominal servitude for a real one. I ask no harder taskmaster than a class of schoolgirls fresh from midsummer holidays.” ‘“‘T hope to be in Plainford about the ninth or tenth of September.” “Ah! You do not go West again ?” ‘““No. What is the matter, Miss Thorndyke ?” he asked abruptly. ‘You do not seem like yourself.” ‘Whom do I resemble ? ” “No one! You are as—as cool as if we were strangers, not old friends.” ‘“‘ Acquaintances of a few months, you mean. We never met until last winter.” “Tt is a beautiful evening. Will you not get your hat and take a little stroll with me?” “Thank you, Mr. Kenrick, but I must beg to be excused.” ‘You are not busy now?” “Oh, No ; but all the same, I prefer to remain at home this evening.” “‘ Have I offended you in any way ?” “Offended me! Oh, no!” she cried, with a little laugh that was not quite natural. In her effort to make her words sound careless she was unconsciously somewhat artificial. ‘‘ But the truth is, Mr. Ken- rick, that I accidentally overheard your confidential communication to your friend at the dinner table to-day, and, under existing circum- stances, I think it best that you and I should break off our former pleasant friendship.” ‘Do you really mean that that need come between us?” Miriam was now really offended. ‘Most certainly,” she answered. ‘“ Your question Surprises me, GOnlGaooks mn