The Argosy — page 234: what you’re looking at

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

Miss Oldham’s Choice. 217 “That is because you have been making too much use of it. One requires to be discreet, even in the use of the sunshine.” It seemed as if Miss Oldham were still paler than she had been be- fore. Few people, looking at her just then, could have denied that she was positively beautiful. ‘‘' Yes,” she answered, quickly ; “‘ I am very tired of it.” He turned, and put the pen he still held softly down upon the blotting-paper, and rested his hand upon the corner of the dark oak table as he spoke. It was a very white hand, and a beam of sun- shine, coming through a chink of the Venetian blind, glowed upon the diamond in his ring, making a sudden pale illumination. ‘One ought never to get tired of the sunshine,” he answered, gravely. ‘* It is one of those external influences whose vivifying power should never lose its hold on us. Many a dark deed has remained undone under the influence of a sudden burst of sunshine. And one can hardly be astonished at it. I can never see a dull brooding day flash out with sunlight, but I breathe more freely. JI put on my hat and go out in it; or perhaps I go out on the steps and bathe my head in the sparkling light, without even taking time to put on my hat. In spite of myself, I seem to have a personal knowledge of some dark series of tragedies averted—at all events for the moment. Of course, you will say that it is only upon impressionable people such an influence could be exercised. Yes, that is true ; but how many impressionable people there are, after all, even here amongst your people. Go over your own acquaintances in your mind, and you will find that you know so many. Amongst my people, we are all impressionable, at any rate to the sun- shine. Perhaps, it is only because it matches the colour of our hair.” It was astrange opening for a business conversation ; and perhaps it occurred to Dr. Werner that it was so, for he ended with a smile. Miss Oldham, however, was not smiling. All unconsciously he had struck the chords of many strange sympathies. His low, musical voice had thrilled her. Then it suddenly seemed to dawn upon her that this was only a business interview. A faint blush had been creeping slowly over her pale face ; and now she raised herself slightly in her chair, in a little way which seemed to proclaim that here was enough of polite conversation. Ah, but there was no longer any use in thinking of that; there was no longer any possibility of purely polite conventionalities betwixt them. <A touch or two upona common chord of sympathy had made them friends. “Thank you, Dr. Werner,” she said, quietly, casting her eyes around her: “I shall never again complain of the sunshine. Is this the study ?” Miss Oldham made a thorough examination of the lower part of the house. She was not the woman to sign a contract under any circumstances without being sure that she was acting wisely. After the study came the drawing and dining-rooms, and even a grave in- spection of the butler’s pantry—preceded always by Dr. Werner. CONnniclooolkks (CO)