The Argosy — page 156: what you’re looking at

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

Dr. Ball. | 143 tell you the truth out quite plainly ? I'll tell you something else, too. If you say even one small scolding word to me, I shall run away from you, and you shan’t see me again for a week.” “Dear me, dear me, this is terrible!” said the Doctor, almost tragically. Now, Miss Dulcinea Vane, besides being an heiress, was also the Bishop’s ward. And the Bishop was sternly desirous of doing his duty by her—which meant turning a cold shoulder on all needy young men who paid their addresses to her. Their name was Legion, so that the poor Bishop had by no means a good time of it. There had come nothing serious of it all, however, until about six months ago, when Gerald Wygram had descended upon Inchinabagga as if from the clouds. He said he had come for the fishing, which was excellent in the neighbourhood ; but having seen Miss Vane one day in the curate’s garden, his desire for trout suddenly died a natural death, and his desire for something else grew into a mighty longing. He was a tall young man, handsome, and, worse than all, eloquent. He talked Dulcinea’s heart out of her body, before she woke to the knowledge that she had one. There was absolutely no fault to be found with him beyond the fact that he was the fifth son of a by-no-means wealthy Baronet. This was a sin past forgiveness in everybody’s eyes, except Dulcinea’s. She was reasoned with, expostulated with, ¢ireatened. All to no good. The Bishop in a long letter—exquisitely written and perfectly worded—finally commanded Miss Vane to cease to think again of this Gerald Wygram (this clerk in the Foreign Office, with a paltry stipend) for even onemoment! To which Dulcinea sent a meek reply, to the effect that as usual her guardian’s behests should be obeyed to the letter. She would indeed ever think of Gerald Wygram again for that insignificant portion of time called a moment, but daily, hourly, until the family vault claimed her for its own. Whereupon the Bishop wrote to Doctor Ball, as her spiritual adviser, begging him to bring rm to a proper frame of mind, and to see, generally, what was to be one. It was wonderful how little cou/7d be done; and Dulcinea would promise nothing. So Sir Watkyn Wygram, Gerald’s father, was written to; and he, though mightily amused at the whole affair, took the law into hts own hands, and ordered Gerald to leave Inchinabagga without delay. There were certain reasons why it was best to obey this order, and so, with many kisses and vows of eternal constancy, the lovers parted. They felt their constancy might be put to the test, as Dulcinea was barely eighteen, and by her late father’s will, was not to come of age until her twenty-third year. Five years to wait! An eternity to an impatient heart!—A month’s trial having proved to them that life CONMIE OO KS (E(©) m