The Argosy — page 330: what you’re looking at

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

399 HER ONE CHANCE: AND HIS. HERE she is,” said Dot, as a tall, slight figure with a trailing black dress and a scarlet shawl came around the corner by the lime trees, and walked slowly towards them. ‘“ That’s Miss | Maverick—and, oh, Reginald! she’s lovely.” “Ts she ?” said Reginald, a little dubiously, ‘‘I shouldn’t ”—but the near approach of the stranger kept back the remainder of his sentence, and with his lowest bow he expressed himself ‘‘ delighted ” at meeting Miss Maverick, when Dora introduced him. My cousin, Mr. Lanster, Katherine.” Miss Maverick bowed in answer, took a calmly critical survey of the young gentleman, and after saying a few words to him and his com- panion, walked towards the house. ? ‘So that is Reginald Lanster,” she said to herself. ‘‘ Dot’s fate !— lucky little goose !” You think she is ‘lovely,’ do you?” debated Reginald, when the tall figure had passed by. ‘‘ Not very good taste on your part, I think, Miss Dora:” but, oddly enough, he turned his handsome head and looked after her for all that. - * What did you say she was, Dot P—a music mistress ?” Yes,” answered Dot; ‘‘ our musicteacher at school. When papa was Calling the other day to see me, she was in the room giving me my lesson. He heard her name and spoke to her, and it came out that he and her father were great friends in early life, and he invited her to come home with me for these holidays. Mr. Maverick was a Colonial merchant, or something of that, and affairs got bad with him and he died.” **Andso the daughter has to teach music !” “Yes ; such a pity! Such toil it is! And she isso nice!” ran on pot,..* I am sorry you do not like her!” “TI did not say I disliked her, ” contended Resinata who liked to have everything his own way, conversation included. ‘ How can I like her or dislike her, Dot, when I never before set eyes upon her ? She is a grand young woman; I concede that; and perhaps will improve on acquaintance.” we amere! Improve!” Reginald laughed: he was fond of teasing little Dot. She would be eighteen this month, and had come home for good; he was twenty-one. Both of them were wealthy: and according to family plans and projects, in two years more they were to become man and wife. ‘ Never mind,” said Reginald, loftily. ‘I say she may improve on acquaintance ; meanwhile, let us talk of something else.” But still ECOnnicloooks (C©)