The Argosy, December 1905 — page 143: what you’re looking at

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

A MONTH IN He found the girl looking white and tired, wrapped and coddled by the so- licitous aunt. A physician was there as well, but on Alvin’s arrival he left the room with the elder woman. “Sit here beside me, Henry.” Duncan complied readily enough. He was sincerely sorry for the girl’s evi- dent illness, and he found, somewhat to his amazement, that the feeling brought her before him more as a fellow-being than as the beautiful sacrifice he had come to regard her. '“T have something unpleasant to tell you.” , “Mr. Chambers was here this morn- ing!” “ Chambers? What for?” “Oh, it was hardly a social call, I think.” Beatrice smiled faintly. “ He arrived just after eleven, and he had a purpose. He—he ” She _ stopped and shuddered. Duncan frowned. “ What was it, Beatrice?” “He tried to make love to me. He asked me to break my engagement and —marry him!” Duncan almost gasped. “ Beatrice, would you like me to kill him?” he said with perfect sincerity. “Not quite that,” she smiled. “ But keep him away from me, dear; I am afraid of him.” “But it’s atrocious! I—I—never heard ze : “Oh, beyond the fact itself, he was not particularly offensive—at first, at any rate. He went on quite calmly, and he did not seem particularly astonished when I simply asked him to go. He rose and walked about for a little. Finally, he turned and asked me at least to break our engagement. I—I believe that I grew angry.” | The girl’s fine eyes flashed a moment. “ At all events, Henry,” she laughed, “J think that I acquitted myself credit- ably, for he seemed to be in a towering fury. He said very little, but he vowed that we should never be married, dear, and then—well, I rang for Parker, and Mr. Chambers was escorted to the door. Oh, it was all quite melodramatic,” she ended scornfully. “Ts that all? ” MASQUERADE. 121 “ Only that I cried for an hour or so, I think—until luncheon,” Beatrice sighed. “ Henry, you are a man—you’ll find a way a Duncan bit his lips. For his own danger from Chambers he was spending thought enough; but that through him, even in his false character, another should be drawn into the affair, and that one a woman, was intolerable! “ Beatrice,” he said, “Til guarantee that Chambers does not trouble you in future, and that he does not trouble me, if I have to shoot him on sight! ” “My dear boy!” Duncan’s cheeks flamed suddenly, for she was patting his hand. “ Don’t be absurd! I was afraid to tell you, for I know that your own temper is a little inclined to soar, but— I had to.” The physician ended a_ difficult quarter hour for Duncan by entering abruptly, with the customary caution against too much talking and the news that Mr. Morley had dropped in and would wait for Mr. Alvin. “Well, Miss Morrison, patient ? ” Beatrice smiled. “Very well, thank you.” “You'll be about again to-morrow, I think.” The medical man _ stared thoughtfully at her for a moment. “Meanwhile, perfect quiet, remember! ” He shook a warning finger. “And now I am going to take Mr. Alvin away, Miss Morrison.” He left abruptly. Beatrice looked pa- thetically at Duncan. “ Good-by, dear.” “Good-by. I “You are coming to see me to- morrow, Henry? You haven’t been here in nearly a week! ” “I—yes. If I possibly can. Good-by, dear!” said Duncan, and walked out, cursing himself for the hypocrisy of the endearment. In the corridor he stumbled suddenly against the physician, and the medical man laid a finger on his lips and led the way to the end of the corridor. “My dear Mr. Alvin,” he said, some- how’s the ee what mysteriously, “you are Miss Mor-~ rison’s fiancé, I believe? ” “* [—er—yes.” Go NOOK (C@