The Argosy — page 156: what you’re looking at

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

Roy’s Good Samanian. I4I shoulder seemed to warn him not to mention it in the old man’s presence. The master of the house himself relieved him from his difficulty. ‘Una, Major Pierrepoint has just made acquaintance with ove of my treasures ; I should like him to see the other. Take him into my library, and show him the collection of rare editions, which has cost us many a sacrifice of small luxuries. You may find something to interest you, sir, even if you are not, like myself, a bibliomaniac !” Major Pierrepoint, nothing loth, seized the opportunity, and with eager thanks followed Miss Bevan into a sunny little parlour, literally heaped with books, tier upon tier, from floor to ceiling; piles of others, mostly in antique bindings, lay about also on every available resting-place. But the visitor was allowed no time for inspection. The sunbeams dancing in played upon the time-worn volumes, some in their pathway lighting on the slender form of Una Bevan as she stood facing Major Pierrepoint—tall, erect, defiant. ‘‘Well!” she cried, impatiently. ‘‘ Have you anything more to say?” "i Only this,” he answered gently; it was his last and weightiest argument. ‘No one who really cared for Roy Pierrepoint could wish to spoil his life so utterly as this foolish marriage must do. With all his good qualities, he has neither the stability nor the health to make his own way in the world, hampered with a wife whose social position is inferior to his own. His friends, his family, would turn against him; his mother ——” She put up her hand and stopped him suddenly. ‘T should be extremely sorry to incur the displeasure of such a great lady as Lady Lucy Pierrepoint, but I cannot give up my affanced husband even at ery bidding. Only Mr. Pierrepoint’s own wish can put an end to ourengagement. He is capable of managing his own affairs without the interference of any third party,” with a haughty glance at Geoff. ‘‘ Let him choose between his mother and me.” The frozen calm had melted now. Just asan opal now and again reveals in transient gleams the hidden heart of fire beneath its tranquil surface, so for once Una Bevan’s overwrought feelings escaped her control. ‘Ffe has chosen,” Major Pierrepoint said gently, with a curious half-ashamed feeling for this fainéant head of his house, whose ex- cuses he was making neither for the first nor second time. ‘ Great as the trial is, my cousin yields to his mother’s better judgment. He would—would be willing to accept his dismissal.” “Then let him tell me so himself!” she cried defiantly. ‘Who are you, to come between him and me? A word from himself would suffice, but not volumes of argument from either you or his mother. I think,” rising with a proud glance, “I think we need not prolong this discussion,” CON (-) LNOOKS .EO An