The Argosy — page 166: what you’re looking at

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

Dr. Bail. 153 *T do know. Don’t you think I can appreciate you after all these years? You are so clear, so convincing. You can come so directly to the point. You can say so much that Is good.” ‘“T can indeed,” groaned the Curate, desolated by dismal recollec- tions. ‘The little I ad say, was a// ‘good’!” “T’m sure of it,” gratefully. ‘Your fluency, you know, is your great point. How I should have liked to have heard you parrying successfully every one of that horrid old Bishop’s attacks upon my Gerald. But, indeed, it seems to me that I can hear you—running through all his good qualities (and what a number he has) in that nice, eloquent, self-possessed manner that belongs to you.” *Dulcinea, hear me,” said the Curate, in desperation; and then and there he made his confession. But he failed to convince Dulcinea; she steadfastly adhered to her belief that his eloquence alone had won the Bishop’s consent. ** And really he can’t be such a very bad old man after all,” she said, ‘‘or he would not be capable of appreciating real worth such as yours—would he, Gerald?” For Mr. Wygram had stolen up to them in the twilight, and secured the Doctor’s other arm. Miss Vane looked upon his right one in the light of a fee-simple property. “Tt is the one redeeming point in his character,” said Mr. Wygram, promptly. ‘‘And another thing, Dulcie: nobody shal marry us but Dr. Ball. Eh?” * Nobody, indeed,” firmly. “My dear girl, nonsense!” said the Doctor. ‘‘ You must have your Rector, if not the Bishop himself. And—of course, by-the- bye, being your guardian, it wz/7 be the Bishop. I am a mere nobody. It would not do at all; and you, the most influential— that is, at least, the largest proprietor in the country round !” “You may call yourself a ‘nobody’ or any other bad name you like,” said Dulcinea, earnestly, ‘‘ but I can tell you this—vzo one but you shall ever make me Mrs. Gerald Wygram.” “Nothing shall alter that decision—not even the Archbishop,” said Mr. Wygram, emphatically. The Doctor protested, but in his soul I think he was pleased, and went to bed that night as happy as——-I was going to say a king: but, indeed, I believe he went there ten times happier than that care- laden mortal. And the morning brought him news. The old man, his Rector, lay dead in an Italian town, and the Bishop had appointed Dr. Ball as his successor. ‘‘So, you need not leave those happy old men and women who call you pastor,” wrote the Bishop, kindly—almost tenderly. So it was as rector, zof as curate he made his dear girl Dulcinea EORNIELOOOKS (E(@) m