The Argosy — page 284: what you’re looking at

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

The Amethyst Seal. 265 ‘ As if you knew the meaning of the word, or were ever likely to do so!” answered Dare, with a half-veiled sneer. ‘I admire your enthusiasm, but I cannot imitate it. No! I will hie me back to my lonely chambers, and try to think of the witching smiles and sunny eyes of sweet Elinor Trenton as being so many luxuries beyond a poor man’s reach.” For a few minutes the two men walked and smoked in silence. ‘T rather fancy my father would like you and Elinor to make a match of it,” remarked Captain Wenlock, presently. Dare favoured his companion with a swift, keen glance out of his steel-blue eyes, but did not answer in words. ‘“ By the bye,” said Harold, presently, ‘“‘ what has become of that young fellow—Boyd I think his name was—to whom I was introduced when I was down here last? It seemed to me at the time that he was rather sweet on Miss Trenton.” ‘‘ James Boyd, you mean, and a very nice fellow. Heisa railway engineer, and has gone out to Buenos Ayres. I certainly was inclined to think that Elinor had found a weak place in his armour; but I don’t believe any real harm was done. In any case, it’s a far cry to South America, and, as he has gone out under a three years’ agreement, he is not likely to trouble you for some time to come.” Again the two young men took a turn or two in silence. ‘Then Bruce said: ‘‘I am going down to the post-office presently. You may as well walk as far with me, and I daresay Elinor will go also. It is a shame to stay indoors on such a lovely afternoon.” “All nght,” answered Harold, a little absently. Bruce stopped in his walk, and putting his hand into the breast pocket of his shooting-jacket, he drew therefrom a long blue envelope, sealed with a great splash of red wax. “If this could reveal its secrets it might tell us something worth knowing,” he said, with a little laugh, as he turned it over in his fingers. ‘“What is it?” asked Harold, and his keen eyes looked as if they would like to pierce the envelope and get at the secrets within. ) “Tt is a draft of the governor’s will,” answered Bruce, as_ he replaced the document in his pocket, ‘“‘ which he is sending to his lawyers, Symes and Symes, of Bedford Row. He was engaged all the morning in drawing it up, and has asked me to post it for him in person.” , ‘“Do you mean to say that my uncle ”—he always spoke of the baronet in that relation—“ has not made his will before now?” “It seems like it, although I had no knowledge of the fact. I fancy he has some sort of superstitious prejudice against making his will: many people have; but since that last attack I suppose he has made up his mind to delay no longer.” | In a little while Bruce spoke again. ‘I hope with all my heart that he has not forgotten either you or Elinor in it,” he said COnniclooolkks (CO)