The Argosy — page 206: what you’re looking at

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

Winifred Power. 189 ‘But he has seemed so much better for two or three days past.” *‘ Tt is no true betterness: only akind of excitement, which exhales itself finally in music ; and leaves nothing behind but the ashes of the fire that has fed it. Poor lad! Poor lad!” The next day proved the truth of these sorrowful words. Young Graham was desperately ill; racked from head to feet with pain. Truly his soul had gone back into bondage—Ariel was imprisoned in the cloven pine. There was not much to do for him at first, except that which 1s the hardest task of all—to stay by and look on. But a new symptom, in the shape of extreme exhaustion, seized him, and then Mr. Graham sent for the doctor. He came; a keen, quiet man, who looked somewhat surprised at Gertrude, but approved of her nursing. “That beautiful young lady—is she a relative of yours?” he en- quired later of Mr. Graham, with whom he was rather intimate. “No, indeed ; I never saw her until a fortnight ago. She is Ned’s reader. He likes her very much.” © Humph !” said Dr. Kenyon. Mr. Graham could not help being struck with his tone, and looked at him questioningly. Could he disapprove of Gertrude ? Such an idea seemed preposterous. | Dr. Kenyon came for two or three days running; and each time Gertrude was conscious that he observed her. There was some interest and admiration in his glance ; but there was more of a veiled curiosity, which annoyed her. She could not help responding at last with a flash of the eyes, in which all her old arrogance sprang again to life. A quiet smile curled Dr. Kenyon’s lips; but he seemed otherwise quite unmoved, and Gertrude took to detesting him vehemently. “ He is a nice fellow,” said Mr. Graham one day to her. ‘‘T don’t like him,” she answered bluntly. Mr. Graham smiled. ‘‘ Kenyon is rather suspicious, Perhaps that is what you feel.” “What is there about me that he should be suspicious of?” she said hotly—too hotly. Mr. Graham glanced up at her; but made no answer. A mixed but vague impression does not conduce to reply ; and it was such an impression that he had received in this moment. The next day Dr. Kenyon, taking his leave of Mr. Graham in the hall, said: ‘‘ Ned is so much better that I need not call to-morrow. I have left full instructions with Miss Dallas. She seems capable.” “Very capable and charming.” “More capable than charming, I should say.” Mr. Graham looked up. “You do not seem to hit it off to gether.” | “Does she dislike me?” asked the doctor quickly. ‘She has not said so.” “But she probably looks it. She interests me more than she attracts me. May I ask—have you known her long, and well? i MICOOO SS (CO)