The Argosy — page 136: what you’re looking at

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

A Mystery. I2t Later on in the afternoon, when Ellin and Mrs. West were sitting over the fire, talking of things past and present, and listening to the howling of the wind, growing more furious every hour, James Ashton’s wife came in, all excitement. Her husband, in medical practice at Worcester, was the brother of Robert Ashton of Timberdale. A very nice young woman was Marianne Ashton, but given to an excited manner. ‘Taking no notice of Mrs. West, she flew to Ellin and be- gan dancing round her like a demented Red Indian squaw. “What will you give me for my news, Ellin ?” “Now, Marianne!” remonstrated Mrs. West. ‘‘ Do be sensible, if you can.” ‘‘Be quiet, Mary: I am sensible. Your runaway lover is come, Ellin ; quite safely.” They saw by her manner, heard by her earnest tone, that it was true. William Brook had indeed come, was then inthe town. ‘Throw- ing off her bonnet, and remarking that she meant to remain for tea, Mrs. James Ashton sat down to tell her story soberly. “You must know that I had to go up to the Shrub Hill station this afternoon,” began she, “to meet the Birmingham train. We expected Patty Silvester in by it; and James has been since a most unearthly hour this morning with some cross-grained patient, who must needs go and be ill at the wrong time. I went up in the brougham, and had hardly got on the platform when the train came in. ‘There was a good deal of confusion ; there always is, you know ; passengers getting out and getting in. I tan about inoking for Patty, and found she had not come: taken fright at the weather I suppose. As the train cleared off, I saw a figure that seemed familiar to me; it was William Brook ; and I gave a glad shriek that you might have heard on the top of St. Andrew’s spire. He was crossing the line with others who had alighted, a small black leather travelling bag in his hand. I was about to run over after him, when a porter stopped me, saying a stray engine was on the point of coming up, to take on the Malvern train. So, all I could do was to stand there, hoping ke would turn his head and see me. Well: just as he reached the opposite platform, Mr. St. George stepped out of the station-master’s office, and I can tell you there was some shaking of hands between the two. There’s my story.” ‘“And where is he now Pe” 3 ‘Oh, they are somewhere together, I suppose ; on their way here perhaps,” rejoined Mrs. James Ashton carelessly. ‘‘I lost sight of them: that ridiculous stray engine the man spoke of puffed up at the minute, and stopped right in front of me. When it puffed on again, leaving the way clear, both he and St. George had vanished. So I got into the brougham to bring you the news in advance, lest the sudden sight of William the deserter should cause a fainting fit.” Ellin, unable to control herself, burst into glad tears of relief. ‘You don’t know what a strain it has been,” she said. And she sat COMMICMOOOKS.c©