The Argosy — page 327: what you’re looking at

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

310 In the Mist. the shipowner’s house, substantial and sturdy-looking like himself, showed conspicuously. A couple of hours later, having dined and rested, I strolled out through my garden into the humble “ God’s acre” which adjoined it, and sat down on the low stone wall, under a twisted old thorn-tree. The glory of the evening had departed, and twilight was gathering over land and sea—a chill grey twilight, with something melancholy in its utter stillness. The sun had set in a hazy horizon, and now the cold sea mist was drifting inland like a ghostly veil, gradually blotting out the familiar outlines of the scene. As I sat, smoking meditatively, and watching old Dan Tregallas, the sexton, who was digging a grave not far off, two figures approached along the path, looming suddenly out of the mist—Winnifred Carlyon and Walter Borlace. The latter was a slight, rather effeminate-looking young fellow of two or three-and-twenty, with pale grey eyes and thin lips—as great a contrast to Tremaine in person as in character. There had always been a latent antagonism between the two men, which only needed a pretext to break into open enmity. His expression, as he looked down into his companion’s face, left little doubt as to his feelings for her. But Winnie did not seem to observe it; her eyes were bent on the ground with a downcast, troubled look. Neither of them noticed me, though they passed so closely to where I sat that I could not help overhearing a part of their conversation. ‘“‘Why do you look so sorrowful ?” were the first words I heard, in Walter Borlace’s soft, drawling voice. It seems to me that you ought to congratulate yourself on your escape. What chance of happiness would you have had with Tremaine—a violent, dangerous fellow, who 4 ‘He is nothing of the sort,” she interrupted quickly. ‘*‘ You were always prejudiced against him, and for no earthly reason.” ** And yet you told me just now that he had threatened your life !” exclaimed Borlace. ‘He said some wild words in the heat of passion,” replied Winnie; “but of course they meant nothing. I am very sorry I repeated them. I was the most to blame; I ought not to have provoked him to anger.” He glanced at her with an unpleasant smile. ‘‘I see—it is the old story. You have quarrelled just for the pleasure of making it up again.” She shook her head. ‘‘ Not this time; it has gone too far,” she sid gravely. ‘“‘ Are you sure of that?” he asked, taking her hand, and speaking for once without affectation. ‘Are you really free? Then, Winnie, I may say to you at last what has been on my lips many a time before, though you would never let me speak. I think you know what it is. You must know that I ——” CORNICE OOO KS (E(@)