The Argosy — page 259: what you’re looking at

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

244 Valentine’s Day. But all good things must have an end, and when they had walked to the top of the lane and back once or twice, Miss Grey said she must be going. “T hope I shall see you again shortly,” said he, as they parted. ‘‘T must furbish up some excuse to call upon Miss Foster.” And then he leant over the gate, and watched her graceful figure to the corner in the road, where she turned back and smiled. The Vicar, forgetting alike his manners and his cloth, kissed his hand to her, then bolted down the lane as hard as he could go, blushing like a girl; until he was suddenly pulled up in his stride by a thought so ridiculous that it first made him laugh, and then made him down- right angry with himself for being such an idiot. That thought was: **T have decided I want a wife: why won’t she do?” On reaching the house he found Trevor just returned. He held a parcel in his hand and asked the Vicar if he had a small box that he could pack it in, as he wished to despatch it by post. ‘Come into my study,” said the latter, ‘‘and we will see what we can find.” After a few minutes’ rummaging about, Trevor found one to suit him. It was a small card box that had lately come down from London with some fishing-tackle, and still had the Vicar’s address upon it. This box Trevor carried off: and placing the parcel within it, despatched it to Miss Grey, astutely remarking to himself that ‘ It would be a pity to scratch old Vyner’s name out, as then she won’t guess who it comes from; but knowing I am at the Vicarage, and seeing the Parson’s name on the box, I shall get the credit of it.” LBAPI ER. 2 es THE RESULT. Ir was with considerably more consternation than pleasure that, next morning, when Miss Grey opened this parcel, she found herself the possessor of a very handsome locket and chain. Never doubting that the Parson was the donor, she argued that she had given him no right to take such a liberty. She grew angry with him for his want of tact ; and then remembering her valentine to Trevor, and the fact that she had taken that eventful walk solely to meet him, she grew angry with herself, and also was illogical enough to be angry with him for not meeting her or sending any answer to her missive ; for which variety of reasons she avoided the side of the village on which the Vicarage lay. Trevor, not seeing or hearing anything of her, decided he had | offended her by sending her presents on so short an acquaintance, and cursed his folly for so doing ; but of the three Mr. Vyner’s plight was the worst. ‘That ridiculous idea of his, that Kate, if he could persuade her, would make him the very wife he wanted, would keep Eomichooks.co m