The Argosy — page 262: what you’re looking at

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

Valentine’s Day. 247 stood where all my letters are always placed, and I opened it, never doubting it was for me.” “T am so glad he never got it,” said Kate. ‘I have been ashamed of myself ever since I sent it. I am afraid you must be dreadfully disgusted with me.” | “‘T think she’s very pretty,” said Paul, smiling rather wickedly. Who?” asked Kate. - ‘‘ Who ? Why the young lady that sent me the valentine, of course.” “Oh!” said Kate slowly, and looking down on the ground. Then, as if anxious to change the subject, she suddenly asked, ‘‘ What were you going to apologise to me about? As you didn’t send me that thing, how did you think you had offended me?” “‘T was afraid you were angry because I kissed my hand to you when we parted last time,” said Paul, stammering and blushing and hardly knowing what he said. ‘“‘T suppose I ought to have been offended,” said Kate, laughing, *‘ but the truth is I didn’t think you quite knew what you were doing. I—I forgot all about it the next moment.” There was a minute’s silence, broken suddenly by Paul. ‘“ Kate, I may offend you in reality now, but I cannot help it. Will you for- give me? Nay,more: will you give me some answer, if I ask you— to be my wife?” Your wife!” cried Kate. ‘‘ Impossible, Mr. Vyner! I know nothing of you, and what you know of me is not to my credit. You cannot mean what you say.” “ Listen to me,” said Paul, quite in earnest now, and catching both ner hands in his. ‘I have loved you since the first moment I saw you ; I have tried to persuade myself that it was impossible. I have laughed at my own folly (as I thought it), but all to no purpose. Kate, I love you. What chance have I of winning your love in return? Not now: I am_not so foolish as to suppose you can answer me yet. But in the future?” ** But I know so little of you,” stammered Kate. “That, at any rate,” said Paul, who was beginning to think he should have his own way, “can easily be remedied. Suppose, for instance, we walk up and down here once or twice, and cultivate each other’s acquaintance.” So they wandered up and down the lane for the rest of the after- noon. We have never learnt exactly what passed between them, but they seemed to be perfectly satisfied with each other’s company. Suddenly the téte-a-téte was broken in upon by a voice from the railing where Kate had first seen the Parson. ‘ Hallo!” said Mr. Trevor, “I hope you two are getting on all right. Good-after- noon, Miss Grey.” “Trevor, come here,” said the Reverend Paul. “I wish to give you this back from Miss Grey. Don’t take offence, my boy, you must see you had no earthly right to send it.” Gomichboo (EO) m