The Argosy — page 400: what you’re looking at

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

Yosodhara. 379 ‘ And now, whose is all this?” cried Rivers. ‘‘ That distant rela- tion’s, no doubt. Let’s see.” But in the will was mentioned no distant relation. No one at all, in fact, except Margaret Ellington, to whom was bequeathed all the real and personal property of the testator. “Then it zs all Yosodhara’s,” said Rivers. ‘“‘ Old Ramchutnee wasn’t such a bad fellow after all.” | “What a fine chance for the man who breaks this news to her! She’d love him for ever.” “Would you like to do it?” ‘“‘T should,” briefly replied Kerr. “Then I’m hanged if you shall! We'll both tell her.” “In alternate gasps?” laughed Kerr. ‘Ah, young, beautiful, bewitching—and with some thousands in gold mohurs,” said Rivers dreamily, holding up a ruby ring to the light. “And a ruin with a secret chamber, where one could hide one’s rejected pictures.” “Or plays that had been withdrawn.” And then they were silent for a moment and the thought was in each mind: “Why didn’t I propose to her, before we found this fearful money ? ” “Well,” Kerr said, presently, ‘‘I suppose we had better form our- selves into a procession of two and carry the treasure to its mis- tress.” A rustle outside : the door slowly opened. “ Hailo!” cried Rivers, with a slightly nervous laugh. ‘‘ Here comes Geegeebhoy to take his own again.” But it wasn’t. At least the former owner of that treasure had never been seen to walk during his lifetime in trailing white skirts and with roses in hair and dress. “T’ve brought my friend here to introduce to you,” began the apparition, when Rivers interrupted. “Oh, Mrs. Elder,” he exclaimed, “I’m so glad you’ve come, but we must speak to you alone for one minute.” The widow looked slightly surprised, but turned and said some- thing through the door, and, closing it, came forward. “Well,” she said, ‘‘ what is it you want to say?” But when it came to the point, neither of them said anything—in alternate gasps or otherwise. Kerr thrust the will into her hands without a word, and the two stood watching her while she read it, and saw her brown eyes slowly fill with tears. She folded it up, just glancing at the gold and the movable panel. Then came explanations from the two young men, to which she listened silenily. : At last she said, looking down at the Indian box: ‘Thank you both so much. You have done me a great kindness. Yet I can’t help GOMNGoOO S (©) mM