The Argosy — page 171: what you’re looking at

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

156 The Last Elm of the Avenue. I shook him roughly. He looked at me vacantly, and I hurried him on. Presently he passed his hand across his eyes and drew a deep breath. “ My grave—or /zs?” he muttered. He said no more till we reached the barracks, when he turned to me quite calmly and collectedly. ‘‘ Laugh as you will—it can do no harm. I have seen /zm again. The third time will be the last.” And he closed his door gently upon me. I hadn’t a chance of making many friends amongst the Cinghaven residents, sociable and agreeable as they were, and was pleasantly surprised to meet some Welsh friends, established in one of the Parade houses for the season. ‘They were a gay, hospitable set, with half a dozen pretty daughters, and as many sons, all holiday-making as hard as they could Something was always going on at the Pryse-Davieses, and I and many of my friends were made cordially welcome at any time. I conveyed numerous invitations to MacLeish—all politely but firmly declined. A pic-nic to Eastcliff Bay—a boating-party up the river to Lynas Castle—an afternoon dance: finally a seat on the drag to Northwold races. On our return from our walk up the Avenue, I found yet another of Miss Winnie Pryse-Davies’s pretty little notes lying on my table, and a second addressed to Captain A. MacLeish. ‘A dance, after the races! Bless the girls, what constitutions they have! Is it worth while bothering MacLeish to go, I wonder? What can make them so crazy to cultivate his acquaintance ?” I gave no encouragement to Miss Winnie’s hopes of his acceptance when I met her on the Parade that evening. “Such a shame /” shesaid. ‘‘ We want you all to come in uniform. It will make the room look so much better. Yours is lovely, I know —but a Hzghland dress!” ‘Well, there are some 93rd men here. Shall I bring them ?” ‘‘ Oh, as many as you can, by all means, but I had set my heart on your Highland chief.” Here three more Miss Pryse-Davieses hurried up excitedly and delightedly. ‘‘ He’s coming, Winnie! Here’s his note!” I could hardly believe my eyes. ‘Why not ?” said MacLeish to me that night. ‘‘l’ve been very ungracious to your kind friends. Let me off the races, and I'll be as civil as you please all the evening. Next Friday, is it? Well, I hope they won’t make a late affair of it. I’m going to shoot in the match on Saturday.” So it befel that on Friday evening a resplendent figure presented itself in my room. Caolchairn in full war paint. ‘““Why, you are as bejewelled as an old dowager going to Court,” said I, gazing on him with respectful admiration. ‘You'd be worth something if you were melted down !” Gomichbooks (E©) m