The Argosy — page 335: what you’re looking at

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

314 Her One Chance: and His. and called it, in self-reproach, “devilish mean.” But there seemed to be no help for it ; and would not be until that wretch was gone. ‘How long does that fellow mean to stay, Dot?” he cried. ‘What fellow?” asked Dot. “That Sarmiento.” ‘Till ‘Tuesday next, I think. I fancy he and papa are going up together. Don’t you like him, Regy? We all do.” “T should like to shoot him!” ferociously avowed Reginald. “Oh, how can you! Why, he is very nice-looking. His hair is as bright as gold.” “Hang his hair!” growled the young man, as he shook off Dot’s gentle hand and strode away from her. Poor Dot, not understanding matters in the smallest degree, sat down on the sands and cried a little. What was it that she did, that she had been doing for days past, to offend Reginald, and make him so cross and captiousP Evening came. Reginald was as much out of sorts as a fairly well- behaved gentleman could be. What with one impediment or another, two whole days had passed since he spoke to Miss Maverick—save in the ordinary commonplaces of the family circle—and he was feeling decidedly savage. ‘To add to his annoyance, Miss Maverick seemed in no wise to sympathise with his discomfort, or even to notice his state of mind. He sat moodily in a corner, watching her with jealous admiration, for she was looking her very best. The soft white dress that she wore was perfection, with the scarlet fuchsias drooping at her throat and in her black braids, and her pale face was made even more brilliant and striking, by contrast with the fair red and white dames around her—and Reginald was driven almost to desperation by a well- meant word from his aunt. | ‘“*Miss Maverick looks wonderfully well to-night,” said that smiling matron. ‘‘I shouldn’t be surprised if Mr. Sarmiento were growing really interested in her. What a fortunate thing it would be !—and he is a good man.” ‘‘T wish you’d not talk nonsense, aunt !” came the peevish retort. ‘Well, it may be nonsense; I dare say it won’t turn out to be any- thing else,” laughed Mrs. Lanster: “‘ but the best of us are match- makers, you know. Have you a headache to night, Regy P—you seem out of sorts.” ‘¢Ves,” he nodded, ‘‘ an awful headache.” Headache and heartache also, he might have added, had he dared. Mrs. Lanster moved away, leaving him in a fever of impatience. There, at the opposite end of the room, stood Katherine, in her stately beauty ; and Mr. Sarmiento at her side talking with her. ‘How is it that you shun me?” abruptly demanded the young fellow, accosting her when he got an opportunity. ‘But I do not shun you,” she answered, smiling. ECOPMICLIOO; KS, (Eo)