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

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

379 THE COURSE OF TRUE LOVE. TIN DER the bare old trees, a grey light changing every resem- blance of the past soft summer days, the two girls met unexpectedly. There was a bit of the wild common at Dunsfield, edged by a row of fine elms, which in summer listened to the love tales of youths and maidens ; but in winter few troubled their solitude. I’wo miles from any habitation, it was strange that this should be the selected walk of Norah Fitzgerald and her friend Lottie Maynes, neither of them lovers of black solitude, and neither expecting to meet the other. There was embarrassment in the greeting. Norah’s beautiful Irish face blushed as she recognised the quick, expressive countenance of her former school friend. “Norah! I did not know you were in the neighbourhood ! ” ‘“‘] am staying at the Browns’,” responded the other. **'The Browns’!” repeated Lottie, drily. ‘‘ Ah! I remember; one of the girls was at our school. Very heavy, very rich; soap, ert it?” Lottie was little, lightly made, and with a face so full of in- telligence you forgave its lack of beauty. She looked defiantly ap into the good blue eyes of the lovely girl beside her, and something she saw there made the defiant look drop away. She said, uneasily : “T beg your pardon, Norah. Are the reports we have heard true ? ” | ‘Quite true,” said Norah, gravely. **It—it seemed so impossible! Forgive me! I thought what we used to talk of at school would come to pass: and this instead of it! dt is past believing.” “You know nothing about it,” said Norah, quickly. “It is better not to pursue the subject.” And she would have passed on, but Lottie caught her hand. “Norah, we have been fast friends for years; do not let us part dike this. I could not bear to think you fickle and mercenary.” “But you do think it,” said Norah, proudly, a warm light shining an her face. ‘‘ You believe me all that is worst.” “No, no, indeed I don’t! But when I knew you wished to marry your cousin in Limerick » “Hush !” cried the Irish girl, hastily. ‘I can’t bear that yer.” And the impulsive hands were clasped together, as the girl looked sternly and drearily out over the gloomy common. ‘There was silence for a minute, then Lottie said timidly : ** Will you come and see me, Norah, and talk it over ?” CoOnniclbooks (CO)