The Argosy — page 112: what you’re looking at

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Mrs. Raven's Temptation. 97 I may write a letter to Gertrude Agate, and tell her all I have done in her cause, and that if she chooses to take Evelyn to see Mr. Creed, she can write to me and name her hour, and I will accompany her.” “Tt was very good of her to take in the poor little baby.” ‘Ah, there was an empty place awaiting it! And my firm belief is, that those who left it there knew that,” added Philip. ‘Ts Miss Agate well off?” asked Frank, quite at sea among the new ways of life into which he was being introduced. “Ves, and no,” was the reply. ‘She has nothing but what she earns, but then she buys nothing but what she wants, does nothing but what she chooses, and consequently finds her expenditure con- siderably within her income.” ‘“‘T suppose she works a great deal with her pen?” said Frank, with grave reverence. “Ves,” nodded Philip. ‘Yet she has much leisure. What she does comes easily off her pen, though I won’t say it may have gone very easily into her heart. She uses a red ink, which is fearfully expensive, though it makes a clear and striking manuscript.” “Red ink! Expensive !” “Yes. You may be wanting some yourself soon, Frank. For it is used for other purposes than writing. It 1s only life-blood.” Frank hardly understood. ‘‘Don’t you mean to go and see her this evening—as you half promised ?” said he, to change the subject. “No. But she won’t let the grass grow under her feet; we shall have an answer from her to-night, appointing a time to go to the lawyers’. You see I have literally nothing to tell her.” Philip was right. The two young men were once more smoking their evening cigars when the last post brought a letter from Miss Agate, in reply to Philip’s hasty note. ‘¢ She’s an aggravating woman !” he cried, as he tossed it to Frank. “Ts it not too bad! I told her there was no need for these lawyers to know her name or address: even if she chose to write to them herself, instead of letting me. Just see what she says!” “DEAR MR. CONNELL,—Many thanks for your great promptitude and for the kind offer of your escort. But why should we trouble you further? Evelyn and I will go to Portugal Street at noon on Saturday. I have written to Mr. Creed to say so. There is no necessity for any secrecy on our side, so I bade him address to me here, if our appointment was inconvenient to him. And I signed myself, as I do now, ‘Yours faithfully, ‘““GERTRUDE AGATE.” ‘“‘T think that is a very sensible and straightforward thing for Miss Agate to have done,” cried Frank. ‘I can’t understand beating about the bush for no object.” “Object !” echoed Philip. ‘‘ Why, it is like playing at whist with a partner who sees no ‘object’ in not showing her cards!. Besides, VOL, XXXIII. COmMmicbooks (CO)