The Argosy — page 163: what you’re looking at

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

148 Valentina. morning to ask if I could take your basket to High Marten for you this boisterous day. And I wanted to ask whether ¢ Up to that, Adam Drake had spoken pretty quickly, but now he came to a dead stand. If it was possible for a tall, strong man; who went about the world and drove daily to High Marten and back, to look sheepish, one might have thought he did just then. “Yes,” said Jessy. ‘Well, it’s this,” said he, plucking up courage. ‘‘ Ann Seabright, talking of you, said she believed you'd like to get a little plain work to do now and then—trick and turn about with your fine work, she said. She can’t see well enough for it now herself; her eyes are past it.” “Ves,” repeated Jessy. ‘I should be glad to get some.” ‘‘Tt’s my new—shirts,” said the carrier, bringing out the word gingerly. “Oh,” returned Jessy, blushing. “T bought the stuff ever so long ago and gave it over to Ann. ‘Are they made yet?’ I asked her this morning. ‘ Master, they’re not so much as cut out. I’m afraid to tackle the cloth, for fear of spoiling it; my old eyes won’t let me,’ she made answer; and then she went on to say she thought you might accept the job.” : “Thank you; they will be just the thing to do at night. I dare not trust embroidery to candle-light. Will you send the cloth to me, Mr. Drake, and the pattern shirt ?” “T will,” said he; ‘it shall come to-morrow. And I’m very much obliged to you indeed, Miss Jessy.” Valentina had kept up a running fire of screams all the while; he was a fine man, a fine man, asking him to take a chair, telling him once or twice he was a “young devil.” Adam Drake gave her a flick as he turned to leave. “T’m not sure but you are a she-devil yourself,” cried he. At which reproach the parrot screamed and fluttered and fell off her perch in a tantrum. “Hang the men! ‘They’re all alike; don’t trust ’em !” The departing visitor, standing with the door in his hand, received this parting fling without notice. He seemed to want to speak again. ‘‘T should like to say, Miss Jessy,” he breathed forth at last in a timid tone, ‘‘that the price to be paid for them shirts will be what- ever you like to ask; not the miserable price paid by the shops. I should be ashamed of it.” The good feeling prompting the words touched Jessy’s heart; she almost felt tears rising to her eyes. ‘You are very, very kind, Mr. Drake, to say so.” ‘ Not at all. [like to hold to the motto, ‘ Live and let live.’ Good- day. I hope we are not in for a fall of snow; it’s too late in the season for it.” | And in another minute she heard the light spring-cart drive away. CORMICMOOOKS (Eola 9)