The Argosy — page 92: what you’re looking at

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

Fifty Pounds Reward. SI contrast to her grey hair gave her a remarkable appearance. Her caps were always made high, and her dresses shorter than anybody else’s, and she made no change for fashion or favour. Now this old lady was Mr. Tom Craven’s godmother. And on the very cold, dull winter morning, of which I have now to speak, she had risen from her high-backed chair in front of the bright steel} fender at sound of the postman’s knock, and advanced to meet the elderly servant who brought in the letters on a silver salver. ‘None from him,” said the old lady, when she was alone again, turning over four letters eagerly in search of a handwriting that was not there. ‘‘ Poor and proud, like his father! Well, I’ve seen much folly in my time, but if he refuses my offer, I question if there zs a companion idiot for such a man!” It was three weeks since she had written to Tom Craven, address- ing her letter to the office of Brown and Co., by whom she thought he was still employed, and offering to overlook the hideous mistake he had made in marrying a penniless orphan-girl, and to devote a substantial sum to further his prospects in life. On the very morning that she was bewailing openly her godson’s pride, and secretly her own, our friend Tom received a reply to the letter he had sent to Brown and Co., politely regretting that they could do nothing fur- ther to help him; and enclosing Miss Greybrook’s letter: which had been lying nearly three weeks at their office. Clara, with the sadness of the last night’s struggle still upon her, ran down the rickety stairs at sound of the postman’s knock, and received the letter for her husband. When she arrived, breathless, at the top floor again, she watched his face as he opened it. The few polite lines from the business men fell unread to the ground, while the envelope they enclosed was torn eagerly open. Clara looked over his shoulder and read too, and then with one glance at the renewed light and vigour in his worn, anxious face, she relinquished her réle of bravery, and cried out the misery of months in his arms. Bobby walked and Bertie crawled to the scene of action, and seeing their mother in tears, lent a shriil aid to the chorus. Upon which they were kissed, blessed, and cried over till they thought the world (re- presented to them by their father and mother) had gone mad. When partial calmness was restored, Tom spoke joyously : “Now wife, take a shilling of your small store, and send a tele- gram from me to the dear old girl!” “Tom!” cried his wife, laughing through her tears, ‘‘ how dis- respectful !” But the telegram was sent, and brought in solemn wonderment to Miss Greybrook’s door before ten o’clock by the postmaster himself. The yellow envelope shook in the old servant’s.hand, and was taken from her to tremble still more in that of Miss Greybrook. When once she had the open pink paper in front of her eyes, and devoured the in- formation that her godson was in London, and desirous of seeing her CONNIE OO KS (E(©) m