The Argosy — page 180: what you’re looking at

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

Charles Austen’s Love. 167 He went down the flower-bordered path to the honeysuckle arbour that stood near the garden entrance. ‘The tall, graceful form of a lady in half-mourning was coming in at the gate, and it caused him to turn to her. She threw back her veil, revealing a face pale and sad, yet singularly sweet ; a young face still, for all its eight-and-thirty years. A shiver like an aspen leaf passed over Charles Austen, thrilling him with—was it joy ?—or was it resentment? | ‘‘T beg your pardon,” she began, in the old sweet voice he remem- bered so well. ‘‘ Do—do you know me?” “T think Ido. Miss Deste, I believe.” ‘Will you pardon me this intrusion? I have felt very anxious about Lucy Dennit: and my aunt thought if I ventured to call here, I might be allowed to see her. Her mother was my cousin, and a dear friend of mine in my girlhood.” ‘ You can see her, of course. Are youstaying at Marsh Farm ?” ‘‘T came there yesterday to see my aunt, It is many years since I saw her; I have lived abroad.” They walked towards the house, talking of indifferent things in a politely distant tone. ‘I will send up to ask if Lucy can receive you at once,” said Mr. Austen. ‘‘ We must not intrude upon her too abruptly, for her intended husband is holding his first interview with her since her illness,” he added, with a half smile. ‘ Her intended husband!” repeated Miss Deste. ‘I thought— I heard—I fancied—that —-—” ‘That it was I who was to marry her,” quietly put in the Squire. * No, Jean, it is my nephew, Dr. Law.” The name, Jean, slipped out without thought. Her face turned crimson, and then paled to a marble whiteness. Miss Deste stayed all day. She and Mrs. Law had not met for twenty years. Charles Austen walked home with her in the summer’s evening. All his love for her had come back again ; the enduring, ardent love that had never died out. | “Do you intend to make much stay at Marsh Farm ?” he asked, breaking a long silence. ** About a week, I think.” ** And then ?” “Then? Oh, then I go into the world again,” she said, smiling. ‘ The engagement I have had so long has terminated, and I must seek another.” ‘You are not rich enough, then, to retire ?” Jean looked round at him with another smile. Ah, what a sweet face it still was !—how it sent all his pulses tingling! ‘‘ Did you ever hear of a governess getting rich, Mr. Austen? I don’t think I ever did.” Turning in at the side gate of Marsh Farm, it was the nearest gate, they went up the path. The sun was setting, and the sky around was very beautiful, and they sat down side by side under Eomichbooksrco