The Argosy — page 285: what you’re looking at

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

266 The Mystery of Allan Grale. a year. Owing to some unexpected change, she came back quite suddenly. I remember how pleased Marget and I were. ‘That very night our barn was burned down, and the house was saved by little short of a miracle! I remember seeing Bell’s face in the crowd under the flames ; she was in her father’s arms, wrapped in a rug.” ‘Do you think she could have raised the fire ?” asked Mary Anne, with laughing mockery. ‘“She was an innocent child, sleeping in a cot by her mother’s side,” returned Mrs. Grale, too absorbed to be indignant. ‘‘ The next time, Bell was nearly grown up, and was away at school, when the pupils were all sent home because a fever had broken out. On the very night of her return, the ship in which my father was return- ing from Shetland, where he had been doing business in ponies, was wrecked off Buckie, and all lives were lost. Bell was standing in our kitchen when the news came in. You might have heard her allude to that last evening. I don’t forget these things, Mary Anne.” “JT was talking with Lady Laura. But if you consider Miss ‘Matthewson so unlucky a person, mamma, I should certainly have avoided her. Not that I believe in such nonsense a bit.” ‘““T never thought of it till afterwards,” admitted Mrs. Grale. ‘‘It only came into my head after we came home, and everything seemed so unhappy. James!” she interjected, as the servant again appeared, ““are you sure you have knocked at Mr. Allan’s door ?” ‘*Yes, ma’am, I knocked as usual.” ‘¢’You had better go up and knock again,” said Miss Grale. “Not that any ill-luck can be in Bell Matthewson herself,” Mrs. Grale resumed, as the man retired. ‘‘A gentler, kinder girl never lived, and I can see she’s the same now she’s a woman. I’ve heard my poor mother say it was a blessing she was sent to be among us at my dear father’s death. There was none more helpful.” “Well, she wont be available in any misfortune her ill-fated pre- “sence may bring upon us this time,” returned Mary Anne. ‘“ Her ship sails to-morrow for Australia, and she said she was to be on board to-night. I suppose she is in Southampton by now. And, mamma, how long is this black spell supposed to last ?” continued the girl, in a light, bantering tone. Mrs. Grale only shook her head and sighed in answer. ‘They had both risen from the breakfast table. She was in a small worry over the tardy appearance of her son. “After being so put out last evening, if your papa should happen to look in this morning, and find Alny not down yet, we should have a pretty scene,” she remarked. ‘I wish you would go and knock at his door yourself, Mary Anne; and do not come away until you get an answer.” “T will,” replied the young lady, with alacrity. “I am going to take these flowers to the billiard-room, and I will give him a fine rapping as I go and as I come back.” CONNIE OOO KS