The Argosy — page 235: what you’re looking at

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

218 A Free-Will Offering. felt in the assurance that now Nettie’s modest fortune was in no danger of being squandered in smoke and fiction, but would be well laid out to the edification of saints and reclaiming of sinners. At another time Major Brown would undoubtedly have felt relief at the burden that was thus unexpectedly lifted from his shoulders. But now he experienced if anything a little more ache about the heart, a feeling of increased loneliness. No one wanted him; he was altogether unnecessary. After to-day he would indeed be quite alone in the world. Roger hastened to meet him as he turned off the road, and made his way towards the dark, silent little church. Through a long night of sleepless reflection Major Brown had puzzled over the young man’s behaviour to himself. He found himself wondering what Roger’s motive in bringing him to his marriage could possibly be. He was well-nigh sure now, since he had thought the matter anxiously over, that if it was indeed Sara’s wish it would have been thwarted. He felt angrily that he had been quite wrong in consenting to attend the ceremony, that he had only put himself and Sara in a painful and ridiculous position. It would have been much better for both of them if he had left Homburg the day before, directly he had heard Roger’s first announcement. Why should he have allowed himself to be used as a tool in this fresh freak of young Wilson’s suspicious spitefulness ? ‘Upon my word, you’re pretty casual for an impatient bride- sroom!” Roger called as the Major drew within earshot. Major Brown paled to the lps at the taunt, but he made no -answer. Was he not about to give to Wilson of his own free will all that he held dear in life? Why, then, should he grudge him the venting of his fretful temper ? Roger continued, with a sneer, as the Major entered the church : “YT wonder if Mr. Cross will make an equally eager bridegroom ? But, oh, no! of course Miss Drayton, the Helen of Bournemouth, is infinitely more attractive than poor Sara. Cross will be at the church before his best man.” 3 “What do you mean?” cried the Major, turning with ill- suppressed wrath on his tormentor, who was watching with evident satisfaction the effect of his words. ‘‘ You have already heard the Bournemouth gossip? Well! I don’t grudge Cross his good fortune.” Koger sneered again. ‘‘He will make Miss Drayton a very much better husband than ever I should have done. And I am doing what I can,” his voice broke a little, “‘to show you that I do not grudge you your good fortune either—your great happiness. Pray let us leave the subject.” While Major Brown had been speaking, Roger, with an apparent indifference to his words, had been leisurely detaching a little white rose-bud from his button-hole. ‘You have not got any button-hole,” he said, ignoring altogether CORNICE OO Sn eer nn