The Argosy — page 236: what you’re looking at

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

Letters from Majorca. 219 can solve the whole mystery of existence, explain the origin of evil, the plan of creation, or fathom the mystery of the great Atonement. We have to leave all these questions, and it is wiser not to enter into unprofitable speculations, which would either destroy our reason or shake our faith, We must be content to possess our souls in patience. Nothing is more mysterious and incomprehensible than a great deal of the Seen, and we must be content to leave the Unseen to a day when for each one of us the mists must clear away and the veil be lifted, and we no longer see through a glass darkly. It was plain sailing on the broad road. One by one in the dark we recognised the old landmarks we had passed in the morning. The orange and lemon groves were about us, but invisible. The fruit perfumed the air, and in this manner still threw out its unseen in- fluence. Here again was the old cross, but the kneeling figures had disappeared. It was solitary and deserted, yet still pointing upwards. The stars were shining with intense brilliancy. I have told you how large and splendid they are in these latitudes, and, indeed, you have seen this for yourself. In England we have no conception of the beauty of a southern sky; southern or northern either; for I have seen them equally large and brilliant in the colder canopy of Norway. To-night we traced all the well-known positions. The pointers were at their faithful task, indicating the North Star. The Signs of the zodiac followed in their course. Lower down, Orion, most beauti- ful of all the constellations, was followed by Sirius, which flashed and flamed and literally blazed with glory. Though in a most expiring mood, it was impossible not to be enthusiastic and absorbed in the majesty of the scene: these stars which, night by night, ‘‘take up their wondrous tale.” We went on our way, H. C. as fresh as ever, still keeping to his “regulation step ” of twenty-seven inches, ina most irritating manner. The stream beside us looked dark and silent. ‘The whole influence was weird and romantic. The air was warm and balmy, just as, on the Puig Major, it had been the opposite. This, at any rate, in H. C.’s words, was ‘‘ grateful and comforting.” As we passed the first house in Soller, two shadows fell across our path, quickly followed by their substance: A. and B., full of apologies. ‘‘ How did we come to miss each other?” said A. “I had no idea we were so far ahead. When we found you were not in our track we shouted ourselves hoarse, but only the hills replied.—You look rather done up,” turning to me compassionately. ‘““No wonder : you carried off all the flasks,” was the only reply I condescended. ‘ Would you mind handing me one of them?” “With pleasure,” replied A., ‘‘ but—ahem—ahem—ahem—they are all empty. B. felt a sudden pain in the head. It was excruciating. I thought once it was all over with him. The fact is he is not used to mountain climbing and it has been too much for his heart.—Won’t you take my arm ?” ConmicloooKks (SO) an