The Argosy — page 50: what you’re looking at

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

The Ebony Box. 37 ‘Why do you say that, Miss Parslet ?” ‘Because papa—but I do not think I ought to tell you,” added Maria, breaking off abruptly. “Oh yes, you may. I am quite safe, even if it’s a secret. Please do.” ‘ Well,” cried the easily-persuaded girl, ‘‘ papa has always had an uncomfortable feeling upon him ever since the loss. He feared that some people, knowing he was not well off, might think perhaps it was he who had stolen upstairs and taken it.” Sam laughed at that. ‘‘ He has never sazd so, but somehow we have seen it, my mother and I. It was altogether so mysterious a loss, you see, affording no clue as to wen it occurred, that people were ready to suspect any- thing, however improbable. Oh, Iam thankful it is found!” The kettle went on singing, the minutes went on flitting, and still nobody came. Six o’clock struck out from the cathedral as Mr. Parslet entered. Had the two been asked the time, they might have said it was about a quarter-past five. Golden hours fly quickly; fly ' on angels’ wings. Now it chanced that while they were at tea, a creditor of Sam’s came to the door, one Jonas Badger. Sam went to him: and the colloquy that ensued might be heard in the parlour. Mr. Badger said {in quite a fatherly way) that he really could not be put off any longer with promises ; if his money was not repaid to him before Easter he should be obliged to take steps about it, should write to Mr. Jacobson, of Elm Farm, to begin with. Sam returned to the tea-table with a wry face. Soon after that, Mrs. Parslet came in, the delinquent servant in her rear. Next, a friend of Sam’s called, Austin Chance, whose father was a solicitor in good practice in the town. The two young men, who were very intimate and often together, went up to Sam’s room above. “T say, my good young friend,” began Chance, in a tone that might be taken for jest or earnest, “‘don’t you go and get into any entanglement in that quarter.” ‘““What d’you mean now?” demanded Sam, turning the colour of the rising sun. “I mean Maria Parslet,” said Austin Chance, laughing. ‘‘She’s a deuced nice girl; I know that; just the one a fellow might fall in love with unawares. But it wouldn’t do, Dene.” ‘““Why wouldn’t it do?” ‘““Oh, come now, Sam, you know it wouldn’t. Parslet is only a working clerk at Cockermuth’s.” ‘““T should like to know what has put the thought in your head?” contended Sam. ‘‘ You had better put it out again. I’ve never told you I was falling in love with her; or told herself, either. Mrs. Parslet would be about me, I expect, if I did. She looks after her as one looks after gold.” cConniclooolks @) (GO