The Argosy — page 99: what you’re looking at

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

84 Mr. Gordon : Spectalist. “Yes, yes! ‘Take your arm away at once!” cried Mrs, Farringdon Griffiths vehemently. ‘ Virginia, get up and come with me imme- diately! Mr. Gordon, I order you to let my daughter go.” | Virginia opened her eyes wide, and with a terrified look at her | mother, clung appealingly to the dentist’s arm. @g “Oh, don’t send me away! Don’t let me go yet!” she implored. a “She is not fit to go out again at present,” Mr. Gordon said uy decisively. And without further parley he lifted the unresisting form | in his arms, and conveying her into an adjoining room, deposited his light burden carefully on a sofa. ‘Then he brought her wine, which he made her drink, and eau de Cologne with which he bathed her head, while Mrs. Farringdon Griffiths stood helplessly by. ‘“What does all this mean?” she demanded angrily at last, as Virginia began to sit up and smile feebly into the dentist’s face. ‘Tt means,” said Mr. Gordon soberly, ‘ that I love your daughter, and would like her to be my wife.” For a moment Mrs, Farringdon Griffiths felt staggered—crushed. That her daughter—and she a Farringdon, of Farringdon Hall— should marry a dentist: that a dentist. should be her son-in-law ! Then the quick eyes fell on the display of silver that stood along the carved oak sideboard, on the evidences of wealth and comfort all around ; and in that glance her resolution received its death-blow. After all, what did it matter to her? ‘This was probably Virginia’s only chance, and she—she would be free. She looked down coldly on her daughter, who was gazing up at her with pitiably anxious eyes. ‘Virginia is of age ; she must judge for herself,” she replied coldly. ‘Tf her happiness is at stake, I will not oppose her.” And Virginia, all tear-stained, without her curls, but with a new enraptured look shining on her face, turned to Mr. Gordon, and there and then plighted her troth to him. ~~ LEEOa A SURPRISE. - I oNnLy said, “A good New Year!” And never guessed what he intended ; When he came up so shy and queer, I only said, ‘‘ A good New Year!” He took my hands and drew me near, And said it all on me depended : I only said, ‘‘ A good New Year !” Nor dreamt that I was his intended. ye ECORMNIE OOOKS.COnnl