The Argosy — page 324: what you’re looking at

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

By the Vultwre’s Nest. 299 good angels had been busy in his behalf to save him from so terrible a fate? Very little did Douglas Graham sleep that night. His thoughts most obstinately turned upon one subject only, and the presence of that young man’s dead body in the house made them gloomy and solemn. He could not help remembering that but for Louise’s warning, his life would probably have been at an end by this time, and while he shuddered at the thought, a great tenderness for Louise crept into his heart. He felt that there was nothing on his part he would not have done to show the girl his gratitude, that no sacrifice would be too great to reward her. Just as the sun rose over the mountains and filled all the country around with a bright glow, he descended the hall terrace, and directed his steps through the dewy park towards the village. Early as it was, he found Louise busy in her flower-garden. She was very pale, it is true, but as neat and pretty as ever. Her smile had changed very much since the first day he had seen her: it looked melancholy now, and the brightness of youth that shone forth from her eye on that fine Sunday morning had given place to a serious expression, which did not change when she came to the garden hedge of wild roses and extended her hand to her foreign friend. Graham held the hand in his own for a little while, and when he released it, he said : ““T am glad to see you, Louise, and have come to thank you for the warning you gave me, which has proved so useful to me, and so fatal to that young Frenchman. Alas! no warning would have been of use to him, for no power on earth could have prevented him from taking the post.” “So Johann from the castle tells me,” replied Louise, in low, sad tones. ‘“ He heard him speak to you about his courage and his disappointment at not being allowed to take the post at the Vuiture’s Nest.” Graham looked inquiringly into the pretty girl’s face. It was no longer pale, but suffused with lovely blushes, that she seemed to feel, and that increased her embarrassment. Graham approached her as much as he could with those rose-bushes between them, and taking her hand and speaking softly, said: “Louise, look at me. What are you blushing about? Do not turn away from me, for if I cannot see you I can never be sure whether I guess aright. It is nothing so very strange after all, and before I knew that that fine fellow Jockl was your brother, I had made up my mind that he was the lucky one. It is wonderful indeed that your heart has been free so long.” Another inquiring glance, which was responded to by just one look, then the girl blushed again and said : . Oh, it is an old story, only I had not been well aware of it myself.” Gomichboo (E(©) m