The Argosy — page 283: what you’re looking at

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

264 AE .. AME GAY Sts, oF Ae By T. W. Speiaut, AuTHOR oF “IN THE DEAD oF NIGHT.’ I, HE turret clock struck two. Luncheon was just over at Wenlock Towers, and on the terrace two young men were pacing slowly, smoking their cigars and talking between the whiffs. They were both tall and good-looking. One of them was Bruce Wenlock, a captain in a crack cavalry regiment, and the eldest son of Sir George Wenlock, the owner of the Towers. The other was his half-cousin, Harold Dare, at present a junior clerk in Her Majesty’s Office of the Green Wand. Young Wenlock was dark, with black hair and a heavy mous- tache. His face was a very pleasant one, especially when he smiled, and his eyes looked into yours with a frankness and candour that were almost boyish. He spoke with a slight lisp which many people took to bean affectation, whereas it was a natural defect and one which he could not help. Dare had light hair and steel-blue eyes, and his face was closely shaven. His features were good, but their expression was hard and somewhat cynical. ‘There was a certain undefinable something in his face that made him look several years older than he was. It was a bright, frosty afternoon, and the time was some three weeks before Christmas. The house had been full of company. There had been shooting, riding, dancing, charades, amateur-acting, and un- limited flirtation. But the guests were now gone—all except Harold Dare, who was, however, looked upon almost as one of the family— and he was going back to town by the evening train. “If you are really as fond of her as you say you are, why don’t you ask her to marry you? I don’t know a prettier or a better girl than Elinor Trenton.” The speaker was Captain Wenlock. The other gave his shoulders an expressive shrug, and took another whiff at his cigar before answering. Then he said: ‘‘ That she is both pretty and good I fully agree with you, and certainly I never cared for anyone else in the way I care for her. But look at the position. fama pauper; Miss Trenton is a pauper; and neither of us has much prospect of ever being anything else. My dear Bruce, I am not equal to such a prospect.” | ‘** Your bachelor life in London has madea coward of you,” returned Captain Wenlock. ‘‘ What is a man worth who would not dare any- thing for the sake of winning the girl of his heart? ‘There are worse uls in life than poverty.” CORMIELIOO KS. (EC) m