The Argosy — page 344: what you’re looking at

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

The Ghost of ‘‘ Ours.”’ 323 shadow of the pine-wood that surrounded the Court, in silence, out on to the dew-drenched moonlit lawn and across it to the deep ivy-veiled porch. “Stop!” said Ormsby, as I laid my hand on the bell. “It will be too sudden for her. I had better wait—wait and write to her.” For all answer I gave an echoing peal. The door opened and we stood within the dim, cavernous hall. Opposite to us was the open door of the room where I had parted from her. The fire blazed high, and full in its light I saw her for the last time, her golden head bend- ing over her book. I drew Ormsby gently forward, let him pass into the room, and closed the door on him and on the romance of my life. The three extracts following may end my story. ‘My DEAR Mr. Rivers,—You know that Penderell Court is sold and our name effaced from the list of county families, but you must not suppose that so our friendship ends. We leave England next month for Canada, where a new Penderell Court is to arise, to which we hope to welcome you some day. I write to ask you for one more friendly service—to be the one guest at our quiet wedding in Lon- don next week—Mr. Ormsby-Dacre and I both feel that there are thanks due to you that we must pay in person. I will leave him to add his entreaties to mine.” “DEAR OLD MAn,—lIsn’t she an angel of wisdom and goodness ! She knew I could never hold up my head with the rest of those stiff, prejudiced old county folks, who would never understand the rights of my story if we proclaimed it from the Market Cross; so she gives up everything to make a fresh start with me in a new country. With a new name, new friends, a new wife, and an old love, if I don’t make a new man of myself my name isn’t Yours very faithfully, HT, OrmsBy-DACRE.” “My peAR Mr. Rivers,—You will have got my dear Smylie’s letter by this time, and I’m just dying to hear what you all think of it. I cried for joy when I read it! Didn’t he tell it beautifully ? and wasn’t it noble of him to come forward, after going through so much, keeping the secret all these years ? ‘To finish the whole thing properly, Miss Dacre ought to marry one of you; but, indeed, I don’t know a man in the Royal Manx good enough for her, except my own dear husband, and he’s out of it. ‘In haste, yours sincerely, ** LAVINIA SMYLIE. “P.S. Let me know if any of you ever see the ghost again,” But we never did. (EONMIE MOO KS (E() m