The Argosy — page 300: what you’re looking at

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

Only a Year or Two Ago. 281 *¢ No, certainly not,” warmly replied Mr. Charles Coingold. ‘‘We only think that a little rest might be of service in restoring you to health. Suppose you take holiday for—” a month, he was going to say, but looked at him and _ hesitated—‘for a couple of months. Come back to us, say, on the first of June.” - “We are very busy in our room, sir,” Charles ventured to say. ‘“ Oh, yes, of course ; we are always busy all over the place, so far as I see,” resentfully answered Mr. Charles Coingold, for business often prevented holidays for himself. ‘‘ Never mind that ; Mr. Brown will manage it. Stay at home a couple of months and give yourself a good rest.” Charles stood silent, looking rather helpless. ‘‘ I—I’m afraid I can’t well take it, sir,” he said at last. ‘‘ ‘Thank you, all the same.” ‘But why?” cried the other Charles. The young man’s face was again lighted by its sensitive hectic, and his voice dropped as he gave the answer; but it was given with candour. ‘I could hardly do so long without my salary, sir.” “Your salary! Oh, you'll draw that all the same. Of course. Stay ; [ll write a word.” Mr. Charles Coingold was himself in the habit of spending money freely upon any whim that took him, and he was good-hearted ; the firm also was a liberal firm, considerate to its employés. He sat down and wrote a line to the effect that Mr. Lavender was to be paid, now, up to the first of June. ““’Take that to the cashier, Mr. Lavender; he will settle with you. And I hope,” he added, in a kind tone, ‘‘that you will come back to us strong and well.” Charles spoke a few words of grateful thanks, reported to Mr. Brown the result of the interview, and went away with his advanced money in his pocket. “It was very good of Mr. Charles Coingold, was it not,” he said at home. ‘ Mother, I can’t think how it is that everybody is so kind to me.” “Very good indeed of him, my son,” she answered, cheeringly. But to herself she said, ‘‘ They see what’s coming.” In a few short weeks ; in fact, before April was quite at an end, there could be no mistake or doubt about it. Charles himself was as sure of it as were those around him. Dr. David, a young practitioner close by, whose friends were on terms of friendship with the Lavenders, gave Charles his best skill and care—for love, not for money. Ques- tioned closely by the patient one evening when they were alone together, the Doctor as good as admitted that little hope remained. “You need not scruple to tell me, David,” Charles urged. “I know it myself better than anybody else does.” ‘Know what ?” cried Dr. David. That the end is coming ; and is not far off, either.” COnmiclooOoks a (SO) mn