The Argosy — page 273: what you’re looking at

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

254 The Mystery of Allan Grale. “You'd like to ask for the pattern of her yellow cloak perhaps ?” laughed Dr. Palmer, as he left Maria and passed into the house. He found General Vivian’s condition undoubtedly improved. At the close of his visit to the sick-room, not seeing Maria about, he charged Edgar to tell his sister that it was a real improvement; “though,” quaintly added the Doctor, “‘we are not quite out of the wood.” Edgar saw Dr. Palmer depart, and then went about, looking for Maria. He found her in a little half-ruined arbour in the heart of a thick shrubbery. It had been his own retreat in many a youthful trouble, and over and over again Maria had run in to comfort him, and kiss away his sadness. Pushing aside the growth of intervening branches, he saw Maria sitting on the dusty, worm-eaten seat. There was on her white face a strange look which he did not understand, nor did he pause to consider it. ‘“Maria!” he cried, ‘‘the uncle is better. Dr. Palmer says he may get over it after all, and you are not to be uneasy.” She rose up silently and stood before him, raising a hand as if in solemn thankfulness ; but Edgar noticed that she did not answer his radiant smile. Something was troubling her. Maria sat down again, and a few minutes passed in silence. ‘“‘ Edgar,” she began, apparently making a great effort, “‘ Do you remember how often you and I have taken counsel together in this dim old place ?” “‘ Aye,” he answered, the light of his face changing to a tender one. He could see that she was inwardly distressed, and the anxiety con- cerning her evident depression of spirits, which had lain dormant during his uncle’s imminent danger, promptly returned to his mind. ‘‘ Aye,” he repeated, ‘‘ and it was always good counsel which you gave, sister mine ; sometimes too good for me to appreciate or follow at the time.” “Tt was easy to give you counsel in those days, Edgar. In child- hood problems are very simple ; our difficulties then are easily over- come. But it is different when we grow older; molehills then are mountains, not only in semblance; our lives have become compli- cated with other lives It 1s a very perplexing world!” she broke off suddenly. | “Sit down beside me, dear,” said Edgar, who had taken his place on the bench, ‘‘and tell me all about it. I can see that your mind has some burden weighing it down, from which it ought to be relieved.” | ‘‘ What is there to tell?” she faltered. Nevertheless she sat down beside him. As she did so, a withered leaf fluttered down and fell in her lap. “Edgar!” she said suddenly, after a pause of a few minutes, “ do you think one is ever free to divulge a secret ?” EOMIGIOOKS (EO) m