The Argosy, Vol. XXV, No. 1 — page 75: what you’re looking at

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

BY RIGHT OF SWORD. 75 with an angry sneer. I didn’t understand this allusion; but it made me very angry. ‘“VYou are under my roof,’’ I cried hotly. ‘‘ But even here you will be good enough to put some guard on your speech. It may clear your thoughts to know what my present feelings are.’’ I now spoke with crisp, cutting emphasis. ‘‘If my sister could by any art or persuasion be induced to.be your wife, I would never consent to exchange another word with her in all my life. As for the veiled bribe you have offered, I allowed you to make it, that I might see how low you would descend. Sooner than accept it, I would break my sword across my knee and turn cabman for a living, But your visit shall have done result—I will tell my sister all that has te passed ‘“ By heaven, if you dare ‘‘ All that has passed now, and if she would rather marry than retain her relationship to me, I will retire in your favor. But you will do well not to be hopeful.’’ I could not resist this rather petty little sneer. ‘Vou will live to repent this, Lieutenant Petrovitch.”’ ‘* At your service,’’ I replied quietly, with a bow. He was white to the lips with anger when he rose to go, and he seemed as if fighting to keep back the utterance of some hot insult that rose to his lips. But his rage got no farther than ugly looks, and he was still wrestling with his agitation when he left the room. I could understand his chagrin. He would have dearly liked to force me at the point of the sword to consent, and the knowledge that this was no longer possible, that in some way, which of course he could not understand, I had broken his influence and was no longer afraid of him, galled and maddened him almost beyond endurance. He looked the baffled bully to the life. It was two days before I had an opportunity of speaking to Olga about it. I had made a rule of seeing her daily, if possible, lest anything should happen that needed explanation by her ; but she was away the next day and our daily ‘‘ business conference’’ did not take place. She took the matter very curiously when I did mention it. She wasa creature of changing moods, indeed. ‘‘T have a serious matter to speak to you about; something that may perhaps surprise you,’’ I said, when we were riding. ‘‘I am the bearer of a message to you. I have to be very much the brother in this; in fact, the head of the family ;’’ and then without much beating about the bush I told her of Devinsky’s visit and of his desire to make her his wife. She listened to me very seriously, scanning my face the while; but did not interrupt me. I had expected a contemptuous and passionate refusal. But her attitude was simply a conundrum. She heard me out to the end with gravity, and when I had finished, reined in her horse and for a full minute stared point blank into my eyes. Then she laughed lightly, and asked, as she sent her horse forward again: ‘Do you think I ought to marry him—brother ?”’ Frankly, I was a good deal disappointed at her conduct. I did not see ay CoOTnmiclaoolK< (©)