The Argosy — page 56: what you’re looking at

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

The Results of a Hunt Week. 43 where the path lay that would guide him to the company of the strivers after good, from whose ranks he could not bear that fate © should part him. Charley Byce’s news would have gratified the self of yesterday ; to-day he had passed beyond such vain delight. ‘‘ And his golden crown of empire never wore he from that day” might have been truly quoted of Mr. Seaton thenceforth in a hundred senses, For his was an honest nature, and laying to heart as he did that severe but most salutary sermon of his Rector’s, he shrank with something like terror from any relapse into his, former ways, lest for the brief remainder of his days he should dishonour his Maker to the end. Full of crotchets and obstinacy still, he yet endeared himself to that country-side to a remarkable degree, for a genuine self-disci- pline carries conviction with it and commands respect. And for the rest affection has its caprices, and asks sometimes with no attempt at justification, ‘‘ Do roses stick hke burrs ?” And Rick and Amy found him the most loving of fathers; Mrs. Prideaux-Power and Charley Byce the most indulgent of friends ; while to no visitors was his welcome more cordially extended than to Ted Godfrey and his beautiful wife, Agatha. For at Ffoulkes Manor that memorable February afternoon, when the purple clouds were rolling away still trimmed with sunset’s glory, two lovers strolling through a wet and leafless shrubbery had found it very Paradise after a meeting of reconciliation and joy that neither could ever forget. ‘And you never wish to attend a Hunt Week at Ballaster again?” said she. ‘* Never intend missing one, you mean,” he answered, catching her eye with a lover’s quickness ; ‘‘for when I want a type of what is bright without alloy I shall think about this Hunt Week and call it my ideal of bliss.” “Then how was it I did not enjoy last night’s ball in the least ?” asked Agatha, affecting to muse. You did,” said Godfrey. ‘‘ For you knew one wretched being was breaking his heart about you all the time, and that a few hours must put an end to his blunders, when he would come to tell you—as he really has, you see—that the lady who wore pink silk was the only _ one at the ball he really saw, and she the only one of all earth’s daughters he cares to win for wife!” For in the earnestness of mutual vows and noble resolves for a wedded future, tears had been in the air, and it seemed well to gild their departure with a ray of loving jest. CoOnnicloookKs (S©) mn