The Argosy — page 331: what you’re looking at

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

310 Her One Chance: and His. when a turn in the path brought the graceful figure, with its scarlet and black draperies into view again, he turned his head and looked after her once more. ‘She walks well,” said he, “like a Spaniard, and they are the most graceful race of women I know.” ‘“ How was it you only got here this morning, Reginald ?—and are you come to make a long stay?” ‘“That’s as may be,” answered Reginald, passing the first query over. ‘‘ Depends, perhaps, upon how you treat me.” “Oh!” exclaimed Dora. ‘‘ Why, we-.always treat you well. Papa and mamma are always glad to see you.” “What a dear, simple child itis!” thought the young man, superior in his three years’ elder wisdom, He made better acquaintance with Miss Maverick in the evening. Her dark, oval face looked well by gaslight; her eyes were large and lustrous ; her heavy black hair, braided in a coronet and destitute of ribbon or ornament of any kind, was a wonder in itself; and although her dress was so plain that, on another woman, it might have seemed almost ‘*‘ dowdy ”—her tall, graceful figure made it seem a garb fit for a princess. Her manner pleased Reginald. She was ladylike, quiet and digni- fied ; brilliant, too, he found in conversation when he heard her talking with his uncle. Mr. Lanster, a pleasant, well-informed man, seemed much struck with her. ‘A fine woman,” commented Reginald to himself. “I rather admire her.” But the “fine woman,” apparently ignorant of his. kindly feelings, was unapproachable and distant all the evening. The next day it was the same, and the next, and so on, until at last, Reginald Lanster—handsome, petted, conceited fellow that he was, became fairly piqued by the singularly chilly manner of the ‘poor teacher,” towards whom he would have been unusually suave and amiable. Katherine Maverick, never thinking to offend or slight him, looked upon him as a boy. Little more than a boy was he yet—only twenty- one ; a handsome, idle, good-natured, good-for-nothing boy. He had left college before his time, had come into his property, and felt very much disposed to have a “regular good time” of it. He was vain; he had been made much of all his life; and he had been falling in and out of love continuously since the remote period when he had first donned a pair of boots. He had been deeply in love with no less than three young ladies since coming down from college; but when he started on this visit to his uncle’s he made his mind up to devote himself to Dot only during his stay. But he found Dot rather much of a baby, or a schoolgirl, yet. And several days went on. “Dot is a darling,” he said, meditatively, as he strolled down to. the beach alone one afternoon; Dot having been borne off to make some stately “calls,” in which Regy flatly refused to participate. ECOMICLMDOO;KS. EO)