The Argosy — page 109: what you’re looking at

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

Bis Wg Socnrst 2 CaN na = en Maina aint Ry Se Sie RSS adie AO 2 * a. “Ge Petia < BY RIGHT OF SWORD. 301 said. ‘‘ Your sister is up stairs. ‘This way.’’ He led and I followed, my heart beating fast. We passed up the stairs and then turned along a corridor to the right, and after turning again to the right, and entering, as I thought, the right wing of the rambling old house, we went up another short and very narrow flight of stairs. "Then he opened the door of a room in silence—indeed we had not spoken a word all the time—and stood aside for me to pass. Olga was sitting at the far end of the room, looking out of the window, which was at the side away from the courtyard, with a woman attendant near her ; and she did not even turn round when the door opened. But when I uttered her name and she saw me, she sprang up, speaking mine in reply with such a glad cry, and ran to me with a look of such rare delight on her face, that I think she was going to throw herself into my arms and I was certainly going to let her, oblivious of all but the rush of love that moved our hearts simultaneously. When she was close to me, she checked herself, however, and put her hands in mine, as a sister might. But the glances from her eyes told me all I cared to know at that moment, while her gaze roamed over meas if in bewilderment. ‘* How is it you are better—and out? Where is your wound? What is that mark on-your face? I don’t understand. They told me you were lying dangerously wounded and that you wished me to remain here until you could bear to see me.’’ ‘There is a good deal you don’t understand yet, Olga,’’ I said. ‘‘ The story of the duel was a lie from start to finish.’’ ‘Then you’re not wounded? Oh, I’m so glad, Alexis ;’’ and moving her hands up my arm, and after a timid glance at the woman, she looked her thankfulness and solhicitude into my eyes. The look made me speechless. Had I tried to answer it in words, I must have told her my love. 3 ‘You are to come with me, Olga,’’ I said presently, recovering myself. ‘“ The aunt is all impatience to have you back again.’’ ““Why? Iexplained all to her in my messages.’’ ‘©Vour messages got lost on the way,’’ I answered, and she saw by my tone how things were. She got ready to come with me without another word ; and I could feel my heart thumping and lurching against my ribs as I watched her and caught her turn now and again to look at me and send me a little smile of trust and pleasure. There was no need for us to speak much, as we were beginning to under- stand each other without words. We went out of the room together, and I was surprised and glad to see on a chair, close by the door, the sword which I had-dropped the previous night. I took it up, and as I did so Olga cried out in great and sudden fear. I looked up and saw Devinsky at the narrow head of the short stairway. ‘I’ve complied with the order,’’ he said, his voice vibrating with anger ; ‘fand I’ve given your sister freely into your hands. You are at liberty to , | : 3 CORE HOO/KSHEO