The Argosy — page 246: what you’re looking at

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

Seventeen. 220 ‘TI can say so,” I replied, careful not to speak too warmly. “ But not very glad—not as glad as I am to see you,” he cried : and I let him have it so. I knew how glad I was, but it was as well that he should not know. ‘T have come to wish you many happy returns of the day,” he continued. I looked up at him wonderingly. But I remembered that he was “always kind to everyone.” ‘You have come a day too soon, then,” I said quietly. Ves, I know. I grew impatient as the end of my time drew near. Uncle Richard forbade me to speak to you until you were eighteen, Nell—but these last twelve months have. been a fierce trial to my patience and endurance. Yesterday I felt I could stand it no longer, and I have come. Nell, say anything to me—tell me to wait —make me wait fifty years if you will, only give me some hope that at the end of the fifty years you will listen to me. Do not send me away altogether.” “Send you away, Will? I do not understand,” I said. “Nell, I love you. I want you for my wife.” I looked up at him steadily, searchingly. The conversation I had heard between him and Rose came back to me. Came back to me? Had it ever been absent from my thoughts? ‘Thank you, Will,” I replied ; ‘‘I am very sorry, but I must send you away.” “Then send me away with a little hope. Nell, I have waited patiently all this year—I have obeyed Uncle Richard—I have not spoken to you—you do not know what it has been to wait and say, nothing. You were too young, he declared, to know whether you loved or were indifferent. He had married my Aunt when she was seven- teen, and she had reproached him ever since. He made me promise to say nothing until your eighteenth birthday. I have been slavishly obedient to him—TI put a guard on my tongue, on my very tones; and when that became too hard I stayed away. Nell, it is six months since I have even caught a glimpse of you. Give me a little hope to Carry away with me now.” I do not know what I said. Somehow Will understood. When, an hour later, we went back to the house, I had promised that I would marry him. “Aunt Maria will prophesy repentance for you, Nell,” he homie i as we entered the house. “TI think she will prophesy repentance for you,” I said. I think she prophesied repentance for us both. But that was ten years ago and we have not repented yet. LOO () COM Ss an