The Argosy — page 115: what you’re looking at

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

100 Mrs. Raven's Temptation. into a pretty, tasty, handsome room, Louisa’s sketches adorning the walls, with other more pretentious paintings. Mr. Connell had only been at home an hour, yet he was already deep in his beloved studies. He looked up from the manuscript over which he was bending when his son entered, not a shade of annoyance appearing on his worn face. Years ago, he had fully realised the special trials of the student temperament and life, its temptations to selfish seclusion, to irritability against interruption, to impatience with the common cares and vexations of existence, and had schooled himself to bear them bravely. Henceforth, whoever had wanted him, had always found him ungrudgingly ready. Philip drew up his chair beside his father’s, and at once secured his undivided attention by saying he was in a “ bother,” and had a story for his ear. ‘hen he narrated it from the beginning, with as little of his own colouring and emphasis as possible, except that he dwelt strongly on Louisa’s confusion and contrition for having gone, and on the impersonally kind motives which had at last induced Frank to visit the fortune-teller. Mr. Connell heard him out with very few interruptions of question or remark. Like many ministers of religion, whose culture and devotion are equal to their opportunities, he had a wider range of experience than falls to the lot of men in other professions. He had seen many souls in extremity; he had explored the mazes of many a strange history. This had left him gentle and patient, and prepared for unlikely things, both in fact and in feeling. Philip left nothing untold that he himself knew about Frank’s visit, | the mysterious appearance of the ring, and the discovery of the packet in the drawing-room. He said Frank would be sure to feel somewhat flurried and nervous whilst he went over the story later. And, when it was concluded, Philip rose to summon young Raven. The minister rose too, and put his hand on his son’s arm. ‘“T have not said one word of blame to you yet,” he remarked, in his quietly impressive manner. ‘‘ Those who stir dangerous water which they have been already warned against, need not be reminded of their mistake. I have no right to censure you. You know my opinions, Philip. But I fear lest you young people may think it is well you did what you did, as by that means you unearthed a plot of some kind which ——’” ‘Tt is well it is unearthed, father.” “Ves; but it might possibly have been unearthed another way. At present it seems to me, Philip, that you have simply followed the bait that was laid to lead you to the trap, whether or not you have yet fallen in.” “CQ yes, yes,” said Philip, ruefully. ‘I see plainly enough we have just been following somebody’s lead, and finding out the trumps in their hand by letting them take our tricks. Let me call Frank, sir. He is not the real offender, at any rate.” ECOPMIC LOOKS, (EO)