The Argosy — page 353: what you’re looking at

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

332 The Lovely Widow. Several ladies depreciated Mrs. Grant behind their fans, but one, Kate Lee, who had been the beauty till the widow came, calmly; declared in an undertone to her sister : “That sort of thing is unapproachable! How exquisitely her. black dress fits!” It was soon clear to men and women alike that their hostess’s. brother was hopelessly in love ; and there was such a tender, appeal-- ing look in the lovely face, no one wondered. Only Major Dale, who was known to be cynical, refrained from expressing approval. In fact, it seemed as if he regretted his friend’s infatuation, and would. have saved him from pursuing it if he could. However, sometimes Cupid comes with slow and sure footsteps, at others in such certain. leaps there is no time to think or check the tide; and before a week of Mrs. Grant’s visit was over, Captain Melville had proposed and been accepted, although it was but a year since the lamented Mr. Grant had died. The widow’s cap was discarded, and her short golden hair regained its freedom. Also, a dove-coloured silk replaced her mourning on. the evening when the engagement was made known. Major Dale looked on while others admired, and only asked Kate Lee drily if ‘“‘widows always brought such a convenient change of garments with them? ”, “T don’t know much about widows,” said Kate, calmly; “ but very few are so fair as this one.” It was not many days before Archie confided to Major Dale that he had begged for an early wedding-day, and that the Lovells had. arranged for the event to take place at their house a few days after Christmas. He concluded by asking him to be best man on the occasion. “ Very well; with pleasure,” said Major Dale, but his face looked — less satisfied than his words sounded. “Come and spend your Christmas with us,” said Mr. Lovell, genially. “T would gladly,” said Major Dale, ‘but I am expecting a man I used to know years ago to stay with me. He has been abroad a couple of years, and has just come into a baronetcy.” “Bring him, too.” And that settled the matter. IV, THREE days before Christmas, and amid all the merriment and con- fusion of a country mansion at that time, the lovely widow continued to amass and to pack an elaborate trousseau. In vain Archie pleaded that it would really be possible to purchase garments at some future day in the course of her life ; still the heaps of clothing increased as if a siege were impending, and Mrs. Grant only shook her head smilingly, and promised her dejected intended the devotion Gomicbooks €oO