The Argosy — page 306: what you’re looking at

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

A Little Maid, an Old Maid an_ the Major. 235 The group thus reduced to Aunt Hester and her two eldest nieces became much quieter and the conversation flowed more tranquilly. ‘Then you had a dull time of it after all! You did not meet anybody interesting ?” inquired Edith, whose zest for life was intense, as became her years. “No,” said Maud; but felt that her denial was perhaps not quite sincere, for it was within the bounds of possibility that she had met somebody very interesting—somebody who had been a hero to Elm Tree Cottage for two years past. ‘Well, Z have some news,” said Aunt Hester, and smiled tri- umphantly—mysteriously. Maud looked up. Edith’s eyes grew big with curiosity. “Your Aunt Mary told it to me this morning,” continued the good lady, and again paused. She liked to make the most of a piece of excitement when she possessed one, being usually in the position of the dullest member of the family, to whom nothing of importance ever happened, the young people opined, and who sat at home and had news poured into her. ‘Vine Cottage is let.” “Ts that all!” exclaimed Edith in a tone of the keenest dis- appointment. ‘To whom?” inquired Maud, out of politeness chiefly, for she did not like her aunt to be snubbed. But she started, and the blood rushed to the roots of her hair, when she heard the answer. ‘To Major Murdoch.” Major Murdoch! Our Major? Jack’s friend? Oh! Aunt Hester!” Edith, from whom these rapid exclamations poured, was trembling with excitement. You see, even Z have something to tell of interest sometimes,” pursued Aunt Hester. ‘‘ He came here yesterday to pay a visit to the Bowens : drove over from the Abbey, where he is staying with his sick boy. He saw Vine Cottage, took a fancy to it, and closed with it at once.” Maud listened in silence. Then it could but have been he whom she had seen at the terminus. He must have travelled down in the same train with her, but had not got out at the same station, his destination being further along the line. For a moment she rejoiced. Then came an awful reflection. The Silcombe: post-mark, of which she had never thought till this moment, would reveal whence the money had come! He would set inquiries on foot, question her aunt and uncle, the Bowens perhaps, and eventually discover Maud’s identity with his unknown benefactress. What would he think of her? An act which had seemed to her natural an hour before, now appeared heinous, transfigured as it was by the fierce light of Major Murdoch’s certain indignation. Poor Maud under- went a perfect agony of regret. Edith meanwhile was continuing her string of breathless questions. connicloooks (er @) mn