The Argosy — page 304: what you’re looking at

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

How Kenrick Marned Fuliet Eusiss. 287 glory of Indian summer had beguiled her into a long solitary stroll, and she thought of nothing less than of meeting with Ralph Kenrick. But a sudden turn in the suburban street, almost a country lane, brought these two face to face. Both were, for a moment, too much embarrassed to speak. Woman’s quick wit, however, stood Miriam in good service, and she was the first to break the awkward silence. “Mr. Kenrick! Is it really you?” she said. “It is, indeed. You seem surprised to see me, but I told you I intended coming here this autumn.” ‘“¢ A flying visit?” “JT hardly know. It depends upon—upon circumstances. I may decide to settle here.” ‘¢ How will your wife like our quiet town, after gay San Francisco ?” Miriam was determined to allude to his wife just as if there had never been a probability that she might fill that place. “My wife !” “Ves,” answered Miriam, surprised at his evident amazement. ‘You forget that 7 knew of her existence.” “Then you knew more than I ever did. I have no wife. What do you mean ?” ‘Is she dead ?” asked Miriam, gently. But her tenderness was wasted: Kenrick laughed heartily as he answered : ‘She never existed! I have never been married. What made you suspect such a thing ?” “Mr. Kenrick, your jests are ill-timed, if you ave jesting. Re- member, I heard you tell your friend at the Sahna House that you had married Juliet Eustis.” Kenrick’s puzzled face grew strangely luminant. Stopping suddenly in the unfrequented street he looked straight into Miriam’s soft dark eyes, and said earnestly : ‘Was that all that you heard ?” ‘Not quite, but it was enough.” ‘““Pardon me, it was not. So that was why you were so cool to me? If you had heard the whole of my conversation that day, you would have heard that my hasty journey to San Francisco was on account of a play—a light, very light comedy—that I had written. A manager there made mea good offer for it, on condition that I would make a few alterations in it, and I preferred to discuss the changes with him by word of mouth.” ‘Why didn’t you tell me?” ‘“T was ashamed to do so until I was sure the play would be suc- cessful. I remembered how severe you had always been upon men of genius or average ability who lent their pens to such work; how often you had expressed your contempt of a man:who would write a sensational play or novel.” “Who is Juliet Eustis ?” EORnnicloooks (CO)