The Argosy — page 306: 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. 287 really very poorly these few past days, and he had not supposed there was need for undue hurry. “Ts there no hope?” he asked. : “None,” said Mrs. Lavender. There has not really been any for some weeks now. But Charles is happy.” “Dear, dear!” said Mr. George Lavender. And, his heart softened by the situation, his conscience stinging him with its remorse, he spoke out without restraint all the weight that lay upon him. “Tt should be different if the time could come over again,” he repentantly said ; and if actual tears were not in his eyes, a vast sad- ness was. ‘I might have done something for you, Mary; I ought to have done it: and Charley might have been to meas my son. I would take him into my office as such now, if he would but recover.” “ And—you will help mother ?” whispered Charley in his ear. “Oh, child, yes. Be at ease as to that: all her privations are over. If you could only live, we might all have some happy days together. Your aunt Emma has been saying so, Charley.” “Tt is too late, uncle,” sighed Charley. ‘‘ But we shall have hap- pier days when we all meet ¢here.” “This is a wretchedly disappointing world,” grumbled Mr. Lavender, rubbing his silk handkerchief over his brow and eyes. ‘‘We make ourselves cross and contrary in it, one with another; quarrelling and backbiting and indulging evil tempers. And when some startling event awakens us to our mistakes and sins, and we’d give half our remaining life to rectify them and recal the past, we find we cannot : the time for it is gone by. JI am deeply sorry, Charles.” “Dear Uncle George,” whispered Charles, his damp and wasted fingers entwining themselves within the stronger ones, ‘‘it may be all for the best. Had my life been lived out in this world it might have proved only what you say—all cross and contrary, and a weary pilgrimage.” “A pilgrimage. That’s it. Nothing in it for some of us but mis- takes, Charley. The wrong tack for a few years, and then a sudden avalanche of heartbreak and repentance. I wish men could learn to love their fellow pilgrims at life’s beginning as they find it right to do at its ending!” concluded Mr. George Lavender. CORNICLOO cs) (SO) an