The Argosy — page 102: what you’re looking at

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

Mrs. Raven’s Temptation. 87 complexion had a clearness and transparency which suggested perfect, if finely poised, health. ‘ And where is Miss Evelyn to-night ?” asked Philip. ‘¢ She has gone to a little evening party,” answered Miss Agate. “*T am glad of it. I often fear Evelyn finds her life dull.” “‘T can’t believe in anybody being dull with you,” said Philip. “Can't you?” she replied, with a laughing shake of the head. **VYou should hear Evelyn’s side of that matter. ‘Though she does not complain so much of me as of Mary Davies. And I do own Mary Davies zs depressing. She would like to be always near Evelyn, shielding her from possible harm: when one has brought a child up, you see, one gets overfond of it.” ‘Which Evelyn naturally resents,” observed Philip. “Certainly,” said Miss Agate. ‘‘ But, as I say to Evelyn, why be cross with the poor, patient, faithful woman: as life goes on, one begins to find one is not troubled with too much love! Young people do not realise this. And Evelyn has been a little excited to-day. So have I, for that matter. And I daresay, if I tell you about it, you will laugh at us both for our pains.” | “Then tell me, by all means,” said Philip. ‘‘ Never deny a laugh to a fellow creature.” “Tt is something I can show you,” remarked Miss Agate. Turning to her desk, she lifted up a printed paper, carefully folded, and handed at to Philip, pointing with her finger to a special paragraph. It was the advertisement sheet of a London newspaper issued that morning. Philip Connell read : “The 4th of September, 1835. Apply to Messrs. Dewe and Creed, Portugal Street, Lincoln’s Inn.” “Why! that was in our Hampshire paper of yesterday!” inter-., posed Frank, in his surprise. ‘‘ At least, the.date was: I don’t think there was any address. I noticed it because it happened to be the date of my birth.” Miss Agate was looking intently at Philip Connell. ‘That 1s Evelyn’s birthday, you know,” she said, in a low voice. “Ts it?” said Philip, as if he did not feel pledged to remember every interesting fact about this girl. But he returned Miss Agate’s gaze. ‘““And now your cousin says it was in the Hampshire. paper, too,” pleaded Miss Agate. ‘*‘ Don’t you remember what I told you Aout the paper in the baby’s pocket ?” Philip appeared to be thinking. “Could I make some inquiry ?” she resumed in an undertone. “You ought not to do so,” said Philip, quickly. ‘I might. But it may be like looking for a particular pebble on a shingly shore.” “IT know that,” she assented. ‘‘ Yet it seems achance. And I cannot bear to let one go by, for Evelyn’s sake.” conniclbooolks (SO)