The Argosy — page 28: what you’re looking at

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

Lady Grace. 15 Lady Avon was evidently very much annoyed, and justly so; annoyed at the fact, and annoyed because she was unable to under- stand her son, who was neither capricious nor inconsiderate. She wrote a letter of complaint to him that day, and awaited his answer. The ill news broke abruptly upon Mr. Baumgarten. ‘The little hard-worked, inoffensive doctor, Mr. Brice, who had a kind heart and never failed to have a kind word for his patients, chanced to see in the Zzmes the same paragraph that Lady Avon saw, and on the same morning. ‘¢ Bless my heart,” he exclaimed, ‘‘ what an unlucky thing! How could Baumgarten have made such a mistake? He said Lady Grace told him. Perhaps it was she who mistook the matter ! ” Away he hastened to Whitton Cottage, the newspaper in his pocket, and into the clergyman’s presence, who sat in his little study writing a sermon. And when he got there, he felt at fault how to open the ball. It seemed so cruel a thing to do. Mr. Baumgarten, who looked gay and unconscious, led up to it. ‘Have you heard any particular news this morning?” began the surgeon, after a few words had passed. “ No,” lightly replied Mr. Baumgarten ; “I’ve not seen anyone to tell me any; I have been busy since breakfast with my sermon for next Sunday. Nearly the last I shall preach at Little Whitton, I expect.” Mr. Brice coughed. ‘‘ Have you heard from Lord Avon?” he asked. Not yet; I rather wonder atit. Every morning I look fora letter from him, but it does not come. He may be in France again for all I know myself; I don’t like to call at Avon House until my appoint- ment is‘confirmed. It would look pushing; as if I were impatient.” ‘Well, I—I saw a curious paragraph in the newspaper just now, about Great Whitton being given away; but it was another name that was mentioned, not yours,” said Mr. Brice. ‘‘I thought I’d come here at once to see if you knew anything about it.” ‘Not anything ; newspapers are always making mistakes,” smiled Mr. Baumgarten. Mr. Brice took the paper from his pocket. Finding the place, he laid it before the clergyman, who read it. Read it twice over, and began to feel somewhat less easy. He read it a third time, aloud. “We are authorised to state that the valuable living of Great Whitton, Homeshire, has been bestowed by its Patron, the Earl of Avon, upon the Honourable and Reverend Wilfred Elliotsen.” There ensued a pause. The two gentlemen were looking at one another, each questioningly. “It must be a mistake,” said Mr. Baumgarten. ‘“ Lord Avon would not give the living to me, and then give it to someone else.” “The question is—did he give it to you?” returned Mr. Brice. ‘Perhaps the mistake lies in your having thought so.” “Tsaw it in his own handwriting, in his letter to his mother. COnmnicoooks (CO