The Argosy — page 187: what you’re looking at

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

172 Fack’s Nuece. § me his niece, Miss Gaskell. Afterwards, when introduced to her, I addressed her by that name. She looked surprised, said there was some mistake, for her name was ‘ Douglas.’ And the long and short of it is, we find she is my niece, not Jack’s, and the similarity of names has led to the mistake.” ‘Well, this is too amusing!” exclaimed Mrs. Allarton, when she had heard all they both had to say. ‘“ But, after all, there is nothing very terrible in the mistake, only I fear it may make Daisy feel rather awkward at first. You had both better stay away till I tell her about it. Your niece is quite safe with me, Captain Carr, and I like her se much for her own sake that this makes no difference about her yisit here. I shall be glad to have her as long as she can stay.” Some time later, Daisy having breakfasted and talked the ball over well with her hostess, the latter said: ‘Now, my dear, prepare for a great surprise,” and then proceeded to inform her of the mistake she had made. | Poor Daisy! As the truth dawned upon her, the colour first rushed in a perfect flood to her cheeks, and then faded away as suddenly and she exclaimed in a voice of misery : | “Oh, dear, Mrs. Allarton, what Zave I done? Howcould I make such a dreadful mistake? Votf my Uncle Jack—and—lI’ve—Il’ve— Aissead him—oh !—and taken his presents—and—oh! dear, I shall die of shame. What must he think of me?” And, bursting into a flood of tears, she buried her burning cheeks in the sofa cushions, while a perfect storm of sobs shook her slight frame. Mrs. Allarton tried in vain to soothe the poor girl. ‘“‘T can never, never see him again,” she sobbed. ‘‘Oh! let msg go away at once, please, dear Mrs. Allarton, I don’t want to see either of them again. Oh! what would mamma say?” Finally, Mrs. Allarton sent a note to Capiain Carr, asking him tc call. When he came, she told him how terribiy upset Daisy was. ‘‘T have written to my aunt, Mrs. Barton,” he said, ‘‘asking he: to receive Daisy, her great-niece, for a few days, and begged her t¢ telegraph a reply. As soon as I hear from her, if her answer i: in the affirmative, which I have no doubt it will be, I will take Daisy to her at Chester, till she can go to her friends, the Denes. Wil you please tell her this, and I will let you know as soon as my aunt’ answer comes P” | Thus it was settled. Mrs. Allarton felt there was no use pressing Daisy to prolong her visit under the circumstances ; and next morn ing, a favourable answer to Captain Carr’s letter to Mrs. Bartoi having been received, she left Overbridge with her real uncle. | — ‘Good-bye, my dear, and I hope by-and-bye we shall see yol | again. Don’t be too unhappy about a very natural and innocen — mistake. You will laugh about it some day, I’ve no doubt,” ani Mrs. Allarton smiled as she kissed her departing guest. ‘Oh, Mrs. Allarton, I can never see /zm again. He mustthink m ~ COMIC OOOKSs ey an)