The Argosy — page 280: what you’re looking at

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

My Channel Passage. 263 words. ‘‘I am so thankful you were in time. Believe me, I have often thought of you.” “T was sure you would,” he said. ‘‘No one was ever so kind and sympathising. It was a very near thing, though.” “You should have seen him, Mrs, Calvert,” broke in Mrs. For- vescue, who seemed as frank and communicative as her husband was reticent. ‘‘ We were all assembled in church, and I was getting just | a little nervous, when in rushed Allan in a grey tweed suit, all dusty _and travel-stained, his hair wild, a travelling cap in his hand—oh! such a figure !—His colour was coming and going likea girl’s. I was | so frightened I could not speak. Mamma said, ‘ Oh, Allan, what is the matter; why are you not dressed?’ ‘ Never mind,’ said he, . *Greta is not going to marry my clothes, Thank Heaven, I am here. Let us get on; it is nearly twelve o’clock.’—This did not satisfy my father. ‘I must know more,’ he said, sternly. ‘ You shall as soon | as the service is over,’ Allan continued, and then he pulled a news- \ paper out of his pocket and put it into papa’s hand —he always thinks of everything. ‘I was on board that boat,’ he added; ‘you ] can read it if you like. Do begin, please,’ this to the clergyman. I confess that when we came to the place where they ask if there is | any impediment to the marriage I feared papa would interfere ; and -}so he would he said afterwards only he does not hear very well, and | being rather excited, he missed it. When all was over we went to | the vestry and heard Allan’s story—all he would tell us——Do you ) know why he went over to France ?” | “No,” I replied. ‘‘I asked no questions.” ‘Dear Greta, never mind that now,” Captain Fortescue entreated. Greta blushed, and then with a smile went on to relate how on their way home from church they had stopped at Captain Fortescue’s lodgings that he might change his dress, and this took so long that \her people began to think Allan had eloped with her and was not }coming to the wedding breakfast. , “Which is just what I should have liked to do,” interrupted the Captain. “Is this your house, Mrs. Calvert ?” he added as the car- \Mlage stopped. ‘‘ Must we say good-bye, or will you let us look in _ again to-morrow morning ? We are staying at Bailey’s hotel close by.” | .I pressed them to come in then, but they could not stay, they _ were engaged. I was not sorry to have a quiet evening with my hus- band, We had been separated for many weeks and had much to q say to one another, ‘The morning brought my young friends again _ |—this time to say farewell in real earnest. Greta’s voice trembled as he spoke of the perils of a soldier’s life, but I saw the girl had a _ jbrave heart and would not try to keep her husband from his duty. | Our interview would have been a sad one had not Charley broken _\in upon us, and with his never-failing spirits and lively sallies pre- _ vented our dwelling ori painful subjects. He was quite smitten _ with young Mrs, Fortescue, and rattled on in praise of her husband — — —— —— COMIC OOO SS im