The Argosy — page 360: what you’re looking at

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

The Mystery of Allan Grale. 339 should at once settle upon her a sum of money, which would bring her in a comfortable yearly income, and named the amount. It seemed very large to Rose ; would be absolute wealth at such a place as Ragan. She protested with tears that she could not spend so much; she begged the General to lessen it by one half. But he would not. ‘It is a suitable and proper sum, my dear,” he said, ‘‘and will be paid to you in quarterly instalments.” And the last doubt as to the wisdom of her retirement to so remote a solitude was dispelled when her cousin announced her willingness, indeed her desire, to share this exile with her. For the ‘‘ yellow woman” had been passing through much trouble herself, and a solitary place was more welcome to her than a crowded one. Close upon Rose’s departure from Redbourne, Cicely had married John Tree, to whom she had been long engaged. He was captain of a merchantman, and when they had been married just a week, he had to leave her and embark again. From that voyage he did not return, and never would; fever had carried him away when off the coast of China. Cicely was longing for the rest and quiet of Ragan almost as much as Rose. So, amid the falling leaves, they laid George Vivian to rest with his fathers in the ‘‘ Vivian Ground” in Dering churchyard. As the mourners stood round the open grave, the valley below was nearly hidden from their eyes by the delicate autumn mist. ‘The scenery of that funeral day had not the distant hills and the faint sea line on the horizon. These were there, but they were out of sight. The landscape seemed to end with the churchyard hedge, and a few yards of bare field beyond ; just as George’s life, which had once shown rare promise and prospects, seemed suddenly bounded by the deep grave and a few bitter-sweet memories. And when those funeral rites were over, there remained no reason for any further delay in Rose’s returning to her longed-for retreat. Nay, | there was reason for haste. For letters came from Ragan, announc- ing that her friend Morna, her mind still darkened by a terrible shadow, was fast descending to the grave. ‘‘ Change and loss are everywhere, as you say, Cicely,” sighed Rose : ‘‘ let me see baat once more before they have entered there.” It was. thought well that Edgar Vivian should accompany his ; brother’s widow back to Ragan; when he would explain anything ‘ to the McOrists in regard -to the past that needed explanation. The ©. suggestion had come from Edgar himself, but the General warmly seconded it. On the day after the funeral the party started. All that Rose Vivian ever saw of Dering, she saw as she drove through it with Edgar to the station, where Cicely would join them. She saw a vision of ancient trees and sweet cottages, and murmured once: “ How lovely!” But she but longed to be away from it all. It was not associated with love, with happiness, only with parting and death. COMMICOOOKS «EG