The Argosy — page 237: what you’re looking at

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

a a a = 22. oo y 4 ‘A ‘, | 4 ; * s 5 \ 220 A Free-Will Offering. Major. He made a step forward and caught young Wilson by the two shoulders, since at the first sign of his approach Roger had reso- lutely clasped his hands behind his back. It was never an easy matter to the Major to express his feelings, and his words came slowly now, and with more than usual difficulty. ‘You are giving Sara, Miss Levison—your cousin, your betrothed —to me,” he gasped, each word bearing its individual emphasis of emotion, his whole face and figure working with his tremendous excitement. ‘‘ You are the most generous of men. You bind me under a life-long debt. How can I ever repay you ?” Roger, who was quite powerless in the Major’s enthusiastic grasp, was obliged to look up and face him. “Stuff and nonsense!” he said. ‘You call me generous, and then talk of repaying me! How do you suppose it is possible to do that? Could I ever have repaid you if Sara had been yours, and you had given her up to me? And do you suppose that if she loved me but one half as she loves you I would ever have given her up to you? No—no—no—no.” His voice died away in a kind of sob, and he was altogether silent for a few minutes, while Major Brown, awed by the expression of his face, stood watching him. ‘Then Roger turned on him once more, with greater vehemence than before. | “Great fool!” he said. ‘‘ Do you suppose that I am giving her up to you—that I am thinking of you at all in the matter? If I had wished to marry her myself could I not have done so? Had I not got it in my power?” “Yes, yes,” put in the Major soothingly. But at this well-meant interruption Roger glared on him, his eyes flaming like fire, his face white and distorted. Major Brown bit his lip and turned away. In an instant Roger was at his side again. “IT beg your pardon,” he said humbly. ‘‘ You must take it that I am not always answerable for what I do, and that this strain is almost more than I can bear. You will take Sara where you like—I am going into Italy—I need not ask you to be good to her. And,” he paused mournfully, “if ever the devil is too strong for me and I cannot fight him alone, you will not grudge me one hour with Sara, listening to her sweet voice, holding her dear hand?” Before the Major could answer, while, with his eyes dim with unaccustomed feeling, he still grasped Roger by the hand, Sara entered the church alone. She was dressed in atravelling-gown of some soft grey material, and was without ornament of any kind, save for the Major’s flowers which she carried. Her face was very pale. There was something so forlorn and melancholy about the beautiful young girl as she came all unattended to her wedding that the Major’s heart went out to her in a great bound of pity and reverential love. CORNICE OOO Sa eer na