The Argosy — page 269: what you’re looking at

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

250 The White Cat. object to the tender mercies of a railway guard. But second thoughts induced me to believe that Dorothy must have had an object in sending her cat to me. She would hardly insult me so gratuitously. And so I gradually weaved in my mind an explanation. Dorothy loved me, and wanted me, and had sent her favourite to me as a messenger of peace and good-will. She had placed the cat un- reservedly in my hands; what could she mean but that she preferred me far above the cat? My timidity disappeared. Glancing at the clock I found that I could just catch the 10.15 train. I hurriedly threw some things into my portmanteau, consigned the cat to the care of my astonished landlady, and rolled off in a cab to Waterloo. I had only time to scramble into the first compartment the guard opened for me, when the train started. As soon as I collected myself I looked to see who my one fellow- passenger was. “Dorothy!” I exclaimed. It was she. She had herself brought up her Popsy; she told me that she expected me to come by the first possible train. I was delighted, and when she begged me not to think her unmaidenly in the course she had adopted, I gave her oscular demonstration how content I was. What need to set down what we said and did! ‘The guard kept our compartment sacred to us, and passed the window with averted head. Ina month Dorothy and I were one; and we get on very well with each other and with our mentor, Lady Pownceby ; and our most familiar friend is the white cat. AUSTIN H. BRAND Eomichbooks.co LT a ———————aee= sees 4 - = — ————— ————— te