The Argosy — page 261: what you’re looking at

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

rs awe ID ON THE RIVER: By Lapy DUNBOYNE. a S° Vane is at his old tricks again! If I were that girl’s father, or brother, I should be inclined to express my opinion of his tactics pretty strongly !” “Ts that Miss Elliot? I have noticed him by her side more than half the evening—but, if I may judge from the lady’s ex- pression, his attentions are not otherwise than acceptable.” Splendidly handsome girl, isn’t she? Alice Hargreaves, the new beauty, is not a patch upon her, in my opinion.” ‘‘Handsome enough—for those who admire that style—great eastern eyes, and Juno-like figure. For my own part, I prefer some- thing softer and more feminine.” ‘‘So apparently did Vane yesterday morning. He was sitting in the park, under Mrs. Fairfax’s parasol, for over an hour and a half, How a proud girl like Blanche Elliot can stand such open rivalry passes my comprehension.” “Mrs, Fairfax? The widow of Jack Fairfax, of the Artillery?” ‘Even so—Nina Forrester, that was. You must remember her, Grahame—a pretty little fair-haired thing, who looks as if a puff of wind would blow her away. She is awfully well off—Jack took care of that, poor old chap! And really she looks hardly more than a child still, though she has a little girl, as pretty as herself, over five years old.” ** And she ts flirting with young Vane, you say ?” ‘Flirting ! She’s the veriest little flirt in England. Her villa at Twickenham is a paradise for that kind of amusement. Sloping lawn down to the river—boat always ready—strawberries and cream —and a pretty little hostess so charmed to see you if you run down for a breath of fresh air on a hot afternoon. She has been up in town this week, staying with her brother, but was to go home yesterday.” During this last speech, Colonel Grahame’s attention has apparently been chiefly bestowed upon Miss Elliot, and the countenance of the man who is so assiduously bending over her. It is a very good-looking face—a face which one of Sir Reginald Vane’s dog-loving friends has sometimes likened to a Gordon setter, with dark lustrous eyes and delicate profile—and if there are weak lines marring the mouth and chin, they are concealed by the black silky moustache and beard which cover both. He is a popular man, especially with women, who easily learn to call him “ Reggie,” and smile over the rather free-and-easy compliments, which have a Gomicbooks (E(o) m