The Argosy — page 270: what you’re looking at

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

A Midsummer-Night’s Spell. 251 © Anything to please you, love. Is it to be the apple or the rose- “Oh, the rosebud; that’s the surest. We'll try it to-morrow night.” ‘“‘So be it, darling ; and now I must dress for dinner,” said devoted Miss Cora. Midsummer-day was not pouring wet, and cold, and dismal. No; it was a nice old-fashioned summer’s day—shall we ever see such again P—when the sun shone, and the birds sang, and the flowers bloomed in a hearty manner; and when twilight came, there was a soft balmy stillness over everything, which lasted into the night. Colonel Keen and his wife went to bed at half-past ten, and apparently their daughter and her friend did the same. But in fact they only waited until the house was quiet, and then stole back to the deserted dining-room, where the windows opened out on the garden. Perkins was left upstairs. Violet and Cora sat down and earnestly watched the clock, by the light of a small wax taper, until the hands were both on twelve. Then they softly stepped forth into the dark garden (for the moon gave a very faint light, being young and inexperienced herself), hold- ing each other’s hands tightly. “We must go, walking backwards, to the Gloire de Dijon rose tree,”’ whispered Violet. “‘Oh!” half groaned Cora as they whirled round, and commenced their journey ; ‘‘and it’s down hill all the way!” A very joggy and comfortless walk brought them to the rose bush. “Oh! Cora! isn’t it delicious ?—I feel so nervous!” whispered Violet, as she groped about behind her for a rosebud. *T’m getting wretchedly scratched!” retorted Cora, doubtful of the real pleasure of the expedition. ‘‘ Where ave the things?” They had just managed to secure a bud each when a rustling amongst the bushes near made the girls start—and in the dim light they saw a man’s figure emerge. ‘To Violet’s romantic mind, he was there in answer to their incantation ; to Cora, he wasa burglar. The latter seized her friend’s hand, and strove to hasten their steps homeward ; but the man sprang before them, and held a pistol menacingly in front of their faces. *¢ Speak a word, ladies, and I'll fire! Keep still, and I’ll not harm you.” The intended screams were stopped piteously, stifled at the threat. The ruffian went on. “You've been so obliging as to leave the window open for my patticler friend, who wanted to make a call at your house to-night and hardly knew how to get in. When he comes out, you may go in. That’s fair.” In terrified silence, the girls looked towards the house; the only light visible was that of the wax taper in the dining-room, Eagerly CoOnnicloooks (CO)