The Argosy — page 79: what you’re looking at

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

66 Under the Linden Tree. ‘‘T will. As long as you are true to me.” “And this shall ever remain upon mine.” And then, in a few solemn words, they vowed to be true to each other for ever. He bent to seal the compact on her lips. ‘The church clock, standing on the opposite side of the common, struck half past ten. “‘T must be going in, Edward! I did not think it was so late.” Mrs. Drummond came to the house door, which had been stand- ing open, and called down the path. ‘Mary! My dear, I think you have been out of doors long enough.” ‘Ves, mamma; I am coming,” she answered. ‘ Tust one moment more, Mrs. Drummond!” implored the young man, ‘* You know it is for years.” A few more minutes, a last lingering embrace, hand pressed to hand and heart to heart, under the silvery moonbeams that flickered upon them through the green leaves of the linden ; and then the last word was spoken and they parted. Edward Sefton was going to that land of promise, as it was then, to seek his fortune—where so many have found and lost theirs—in the golden plains of California. Back she turned again and went back to the gate and stood under the shade of the linden to watch him away ; to take another last look at the tall, fine form that was so dear to her. She loved him with an impassioned love ; she had been able to see no fault in him when others had found it, calling him light, unsteady, irreligious: but in this last parting there had lacked something to satisfy her soul. He was going away for long years ; heaven only knew whether they should meet again: and she felt that she would rather have heard some more earnest and even prayerful words from the young man’s lips, than the praises of her grace and beauty which he murmured to the last. Had he even said, ‘God bless you,” or ‘‘God protect my love,” it would have given some sanctity to their parting. But, no! To the very last it was, ‘‘ My loved one, I shall see no face like yours till I come back to you again !” Almost as if he valued and loved her only for her beauty, she told herself, as she stood there in sorrow and tears. And then, hating herself for being wicked enough to give way to an unkind thought, she went into the house and upto her own room ; where, before retiring, she said a prayer for the loved one that at least could do him no harm. The carriage, bearing Edward Sefton to the railway station, passed her house the next morning ; and she, watching from the window, was rewarded by one brief glimpse of the bright, handsome face that was all the world to her. How gay and happy he looked! And yet he was leaving her behind him! CORNICE OOOMKS neo)