The Argosy — page 384: what you’re looking at

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

A Love Story. 361 sun was beginning to paint shadows on the Western hills, draw lines upon the lawns and change the purple of the upland heather to a deep crimson. There I found my fairy charmer all alone, with the rays of an autumn sunset giving additional lustre to the golden halo of her head. She was busily engaged in winding wool, and did not refuse my proffered assistance in the task. As she wound and wound and wound, and her fairy hands flitted backwards and forwards before my outstretched arms, I could not resist every now and then taking a stealthy glance at those clear blue eyes. At every glance | became more and more bewitched, while the skein, I fear, became more and more entangled. But her nimble and taper fingers quickly undid the knots, and as she went on winding and winding and winding, and the skein became thinner and thinner and thinner, my glances became more and more frequent and our hands came closer and closer together. There was now but one coil left. I let it slip first through both hands, then through one, then checked it, then held on to it; then looked once more into those dear eyes of hers, which this time looked straight into mine and allowed me, as I imagined, to see right through them into the depths of her soul below. Our hands met; an emotion thrilled through my whole frame; and, taking her hand in mine, I asked if I might keep it: and she Well, she didn’t say ‘‘ No.” ‘So that is ball number three, I suppose?” said Ferrers. ‘ Well, old boy, I wish you good luck.” “And now,” continued Talboys: “I want you to do something for me. I want you to be ‘best man’ at the wedding.” “Delighted,” cried Ferrers. ‘‘ Though it is always rather sad to me, do you know, to see an old friend married. Not that I have any doubts as to his future happiness, but only because one is certain to lose one’s friend, not as a ‘friend,’ you know, but as a ‘ familiar.’ By the way, you have not yet told me the name of this charmer.” “Amy Ancharad ; a sister of Sir Ralph Ancharad.” “ What!” exclaimed Ferrers, in an agitated tone, and with a pained and astonished look upon his face. ‘* You don’t mean to say “ And then, stopping abruptly, he added after a moment: “ I am afraid, Talboys, I must recall my promise ; I cannot see you married to that girl.” ‘What do you mean ?” enquired Talboys, astonished in his turn. ‘‘ Nothing, except that I should not have minded so much if it had not been my greatest friend,” replied Ferrers, somewhat incon- sequently, and with a tone of regret in his voice. ‘“My dear Ferrers, why should you mind at all? What do you know of Miss Ancharad?” enquired Talboys, with just a suspicion of annoyance in his manner. comicooolks (CO An