Argosy, Vol. 123, No. 2 — page 89: what you’re looking at

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

THE PROGRESS. ‘‘A fair day to you, Master Roundhead,”’ said he, as pleasantly as he might have welcomed a beloved friend. ‘I prithee be seated. cé Only,” careful.” he added, “be very, very CHAPTER IX. A BONE OF CONTENTION. | CONQUERED my first impulse to drop from the tree, take the stranger by sur- ‘prise, and turn the tables in Bunyan’s favor. But curiosity, and the fact that my friend seemed in no immediate danger of being shot by the courteous enemy, decided me to wait and see what should develop. Presently I might gain some explanation of the stranger’s identity, and his presence in that summer-house, to which Hobgoblin had been invited—as to a trap, it seemed. Yet I could not believe that Ruth, despite her loyalty to her mistress, could | be so enamored of the cause Joyce espoused as to lay a trap for Jack Bunyan, Round- head though he was. Which made the mystery deeper, and aggravated my curi- Osity respecting the gentleman. Bunyan was quite at his mercy, although he did not appear to take his situation one way or another, being at first too much surprised, and then developing a sort of belligerently inquiring attitude not at all in keeping with his position. - “ Who are you?” he demanded to know. The stranger laughed lightly. that Bunyan had so little regard for his peril, he presently lowered the weapon, after once more suggesting that Jack be seated: : “Nay,” said Hobgoblin. “I would as lief stand. J think and talk better having free use of my limbs. But ye do not an- swer. What is your name and station? What do ye in this garden? And why greet a visitor with a pistol-muzzle?” Fhe stranger laughed again as if highly amused. “Ye usurp the prerogatives of the situa- tion, sir,” said he. ‘‘ But so be it—for the present. I am Richard Eveleigh, an uncle- in-law of the lady of Eveleigh Manor.” Seeing OF J. BUNYAN. 2p So! and developed a kindlier feeling regarding the gentleman. I even imagined on the instant a distinct family resemblance to Mistress Joyce, despite that his face was unshaven and his general appearance that of one who has recently undergone some hard knocks. He was little over medium height, grace- fully built, and dressed in cavalier (al- though not military) fashion, his attire undoubtedly of rich material, but the worse for wear. He wore no hat, and his hair, long and curling, was touched with gray, as were his mustache and a little tuft below his underlip. His age I judged to be about forty-five. But that about the man which made him different from the common cavalier type was a curious commingling of dignity, good humor, and the air of one who does not take anything very seriously for very long. It was as if life were to him something of a jest which, like the needle in the hay- stack, only needs discovering. This shabby- genteel person with the horse-pistol struck me as a persistent hunter after the needle. ‘So much for your name and station,” said Bunyan. ‘‘ But why the horse-pistol?” “As to that,” said Eveleigh, “ by your dress I take it y’are Roundhead, whereas I, by mine, would seem to any eye Cava- lier, as indeed I am. That is, my sympa- thies are with the king.” ‘And ye fear seizure since Naseby,”’ John supplied. “Possibly, though I bore no arms at Naseby. Still, an unexpected Roundhead entering my niece’s garden—”’ - “And why, if ye be of the king’s side, bore ye no arms at Naseby?” Bunyan asked with a. thoughtful frown. Again Eveleigh seemed greatly amused, ~ as I was myself at Hobgoblin’s attitude, as if he and not this gentleman with the pistol ‘were master of the situation. ~ “Tam not a man of blood,” said Joyce’s uncle. ‘“ Rather do I incline to the gentler walks.”’ “Weak spine!”’ snorted Bunyan. “ As a man has sympathy in these times he should bear arms on one side or the other, or be out of sympathy and arms on both MICLO© S I was immediately more interested, C@