The Argosy — page 305: what you’re looking at

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

288 How Kenrick Marned Fuliet Eustis. “The heroine of my comedy. The hero was, at first, in love with Miriam Arnold (I wrote the play before I knew you, or I should never have taken that name), but she did not fall in love with him, so I married him to Juliet. Oh, Miriam! what a mean opinion you must have had of me. No wonder you said I insulted you if you thought I was a married man. No, Miriam! I am not married, and never shall be unless you will be my wife. Surely you must have known that I loved you ?” They were nearing the town, and Kenrick had to choose his words and guard his tones, but he was determined not to be misunderstood this time. “You said,” replied Miriam, with crimson cheeks and happy, downcast eyes, “‘that you dd prefer Miriam but had changed your mind, so how was I to know any better ? ” “Did I say that? I assure you it was not this Miriam of whom I spoke. Wait until you see the play—oh, by the way, it brought me some two thousand dollars, and I have made an engagement to write another at once, so now that I can afford to furnish a house I may venture to seek a wife. Miriam, I am not a rich man, but I can work for you; I can give you a comfortable heme, a loving heart, and an untarnished name.” Miriam was obliged to defer her reply ; a mutual friend met them at that very inopportune moment, and began to offer Kenrick her congratulations upon his marriage. ‘Have you heard that absurd story?” he replied. ‘Thank you for your good wishes, though they are premature.” ‘‘ Isn’t he married, Miriam ?” asked the incredulous friend. ‘Not yet,” was the unthinking answer. “O—h, I see! It is a little too soon. Good afternoon,” and the friend hastened away to spread the news that Kenrick was not married, but was engaged to Miriam. “T didn’t mean ” began Miriam, with blushing cheeks. “Don’t say it, my darling!” he interrupted. ‘Say that you did mean all that your ‘not yet’ implied.” Her answer may be imagined. And in a few months she became his wife, although he had married Juliet Eustis, just as he told his friend when Miriam heard but half the story. COMIC MOIOOL KS, (E0o)