The Argosy — page 186: what you’re looking at

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

The Mystery of Allan Grale. 169 *¢ And so you found your way to Savoch, Alny,” she said, calling him by the pet name she had given him when an infant. “I did not ask you about it when you mentioned it, for your father was present, and it might have put him out. I really don’t think he noticed what you said. It’s hard that he should feel as he does about my poor sister and her husband. Whatever disgrace has fallen, it is not their fault ; and it doesn’t touch us; it’s nothing to your father or me. Why can’t he let bygones be bygones? I suppose there is nothing fresh, is there, Alny ? ” “Nothing fresh at Savoch,” he replied. ‘The remembrance of the house there, and the life lived in it, rose upon his mind like a vision, not of sleeping beauty and hope, but of sleeping anguish and shame. His face was very grave. ‘And how is my sister Marget looking ?” asked Mrs. Grale again. “Pretty well for her, I think,” said Allan, hesitatingly. ‘‘ She seemed in good health. But her days must be very dull, mother, with no companion but that grim husband of hers.” “Ah, she knows what made him grim,” answered Mrs. Grale, féelingly. ‘‘They’ve both had the same burden to bear, Alny, and indeed that’s the only comfort they’ve had. I suppose she had no news to tell you, my dear ?” ‘““ Nothing at all: it isn’t likely,” he replied. There was a strange constraint in his manner. ‘Was the name not even mentioned?” Mrs. Grale asked again, in a lower voice. “Not once,” replied Allan, briefly. His aunt’s worn, craving face, rose before him, with those questioning eyes to which he had refused response. It hurt Allan to remember this. He could realise what an event his visit must have been in the Savoch house, what wild hopes and wishes it must have awakened, and to the disappoint- ment they had been doomed. And yet—what could he have said ? Mrs. Grale shook her head sadly. ‘Tl engage it was not out of your Aunt Marget’s thoughts for one minute,” she remarked. ‘ Well, we all have our trials—but oh, Alny, hers has been a heavy one.” He bent his head in sympathy. And the never knowing when the worst may have to be gone over again must be the bitterest bit of all,” went on Mrs. Grale. ““One can live through anything if it’s to come to an end. ‘There’s no safe cupboard for family skeletons except the one with the green door, and the stone in front of it. And perhaps poor Marget’s misery is over ; only as she does not know it, it 1s the same to her as if it were not. There was a story about a death once, you know, Alny, but proofs could never be had. She wouldn’t believe it without them.” ‘“ Ah, she would not want to believe it! she’d rather there might be another chance, cost her what it might,” said Allan. There was a quiver of emotion in his voice, which made his mother look up from her work, and her heart warmed the more to her son for showing so (SO) GOnmilGaooks