The Argosy — page 152: what you’re looking at

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

137 ROY’S GOOD SAMARITAN. By Mary Grace Wicxtwick, Author of “ Mrs, Carr’s Companion,” &c. a9 M* dear Geoffrey! You must get Roy out of it in some way. The ideais preposterous! JZy son, Fitzroy Pierrepoint, the heir of Branxholme, marry an obscure librarian’s daughter! It’s altogether out of the question, Geoff, and I rely on you to prevent Nn ** But, my dear aunt——” “Now, Geoffrey, you can’t desert me,” and Lady Lucy Pierrepoint held out her pretty hands imploringly. ‘‘ Have you not always been my refuge in all Roy’s scrapes? And this is the worst and most des- perate of all. If only he had never spent that month at Uskebank!” “It was very unlucky. Roy is just the sort of susceptible fellow to fall in love with every common-place woman he meets. And he always dd turn his geese into swans.” ‘No doubt the girl is an artful, designing wretch, and did her best to entrap my poor boy.” ‘‘Have you any plan to propose?” and Major Pierrepoint pulled his long moustachios thoughtfully. Lady Lucy shook her head in doleful despair. “YT hardly know. Roy seemed terribly obstinate when I spoke to him the other day; but,” brightening, ‘‘ perhaps yow could do some- thing with him, Geoff? He has always looked up to you. Do try, this very evening, and beg, threaten, coax or bribe him out of it. I should think no sacrifice too great.” “Would you even consent to that Australian trip he has been bent upon so long? Six months’ absence would cure him.” “Do you think so? Then persuade him to give her up and go, dear Geoff. I shall bless you for ever if you only succeed.” But Major Geoffrey Pierrepoint had several tétes-a-téte with his wilful young cousin before he could lay any claim to his aunt’s promised blessing, and when, at the end of a week, he again turned up in her boudoir, it was with rather a rueful countenance. “‘P’ve won Roy’s consent, but only on condition that I interview the girl myself and get her to release him. It’s a horrid business !” ‘But, Geoff, that is all we want. How clever of you! And if the girl is ‘ difficult,’ you know, I shall think a thousand or two well spent in buying her off. Offer what you like.” Thus liberally commissioned, and provided with Miss Bevan’s address, Major Pierrepoint took his unwilling way, next morning, towards the gloomy regions of Bloomsbury, wondering within him- self what sort of syren such a ¢risfe neighbourhood could have connicloooks (C(O)