The Argosy — page 258: what you’re looking at

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

Valentine’s Day. 243 being expert, they had no difficulty in keeping themselves warm, even in February, and were just playing the deciding game of a hard- fought set, when suddenly Trevor remarked : ‘TI say, isn’t this Valentine’s Day?” “Ves,” replied his opponent, thinking that it was the first time for ten years that he had had any special reason for recollecting the date. ‘Yes; why?” “Well!” said Trevor, ‘I ought tosenda valentine. I’m afraid I’m rather late about it ; where can I get one?” *©T don’t know much about that kind of thing,” returned the Par- son; “ but I should say not in Glendale.” “T think X—-— is your nearest town. How far is that off?” enquired Trevor. * About two miles.” “Then, if you'll excuse me,” said the young gentleman, turning rather red, ‘‘I think I’ll run over there.” “Certainly,” replied the Vicar, surprised at finding himself so sympathetic. And so it came to pass that while Mr. Trevor hurried over to X ‘as fast as his legs would carry him, his preceptor took a stroll round the Vicarage grounds, and coming to a railing in the fence overlooking the lane, leant over it lost in reverie. ‘And as in uffish thought he stood,” he was startled by the appari- tion of a young lady strolling slowly down the lane towards him. “Surely,” said the Parson, “‘you are a little too early; they don’t blossom till May.” Then seeing by Kate’s extreme discomposure that she was meditating a hasty retreat, he deceitfully added: ‘ At least, most of them. Of course there might be a few early ones about, but they are rather difficult to find. Il come and help you hunt for them, if I may.” The next minute he was on the path by her side, looking rather ashamed of his own alacrity. Though of late he had abjured female society, he was not one of those unfortunate men who cannot open their mouths in a lady’s presence; and in a few minutes he had set Kate at her ease by a few commonplace remarks. Introducing him- self as the Vicar, he expressed a belief that she was not a resident in his parish. Miss Grey faltered an apology for her trespass, said who she was and where she was staying, and in a very little time had completely recovered her equanimity, and was chatting affably with her new friend. A very pleasant change the Vicar found it from his ordinary after- noon’s employment, to saunter down a lane with a pretty and amusing girl There was a spice of romance about the suddenness of their acquaintance that just suited his present state of mind; while the mischievous Kate almost laughed outright, when she remembered that she had come out to look for the pupil, at finding herself strolling about in a confidential manner with the tutor. (EO) m 0)(0\(6) cS) (EO) m