The Argosy — page 332: what you’re looking at

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

Her One Chance: and His. 311 “Such a dear, little, kittenish thing, so different from that Miss Maverick. Still she’s hardly—Halloa!” for a sudden turn, around a jutting rock, caused him almost to fall over a dark-robed lady, who sat there gazing out to sea. “Tam sure I beg your pardon,” he said, lifting hishat. ‘I didn’t know you were here.” The soft dark eyes were turned slowly upon him. “ Ah, it is you,” she said, with a smile, which made Regy wonder how he had ever thought her plain. ‘I often come here—TI like to watch the sea.” The slender hand drew her dress away slightly from the other end of the rock on which she sat, and Reginald, emboldened by the smile, gallantly asked permission to seat himself beside her. It was astonishing how quickly they became acquainted. Miss Maverick, on the sands alone, and all to himself, was very different from Miss Maverick in company: and Reginald soon found himself talking and laughing with her freely, as though they were quite old friends. Not until the slanting beams of the sun warned them of the flight of time, did they think of returning homeward ; and, then, as Miss | Maverick, drawing her shawl around her, rose ‘to go, he said with a boyish directness, which once in a while came to the surface through all his affectations: ‘I like you a great deal better than I thought I did. I hope I shall have a chance to talk with you again.” “Thanks for the wish,” she answered, laughing softly, and then they separated, she going slowly towards the house, and he waiting behind on the beach to indulge in a cigar: and, for a wonder, thinking. ‘* By Jove, she’s a splendid girl! That little stupid Dot’s nothing beside her. I must cultivate my friendship with Miss Maverick. What a shame that she should be ateacher in Dot’s school. She’s a true lady, if ever there was one.” After that, they met often ; by accident, as it seemed to Katherine. Sometimes on the beach, or in the shady garden, or in one or other of the quiet rooms of the pretty little house—for this was only Mr. Lanster’s seaside residence. ‘““Regy seems to be very studious all on a sudden,” observed Mr. Lanster one day. ‘‘ He doesn’t care to go out with us at all; he is always strolling out in solitude with a book.” Alas for Regy’s ‘solitary studies!” The book which accompanied him was generally used as a hassock for Miss Maverick’s trimly-booted feet, and Regy himself was studying quite another volume. Mrs. Lanster did not often invite the teacher to accompany herself and daughter on these visits; the little open carriage held but two besides the coachman ; and Regy was sure to find her on the beach or among the rocks. Then perhaps they had a little study together, that of some seductive book of poetry. ; This was all very nice and pleasant ; still it was dangerous. Regy knew it ; ppshaps Miss Maverick knew it. Regy knew perfectly well; . ECORnNIClOOKKS (C©)