The Argosy — page 118: what you’re looking at

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

310 THE ARGOSY. ‘‘Tcan pretty well guess,’’ I answered calmly. _ ‘‘ Probably go found and have afternoon tea with her and tell her that little fable which you told me the other day. You weary me with these constant threats, Paula. They get like a musket that’s held solong at one’s head that it rusts at the lock and the trigger can’t be pulled. It would be so much more interesting if you’d go and do something.’’ With that I turned away and lighted a cigarette, almost wishing in my heart that I could offend her sufficiently to drive her away, and yet sick at the knowledge of her power over Olga and me. ‘‘T like that tone better,’’ she said, with a laugh. ‘‘ At least it shows some kind of feeling. I hatealog. You will find I can ‘do something,’ as you say, when the time comes, if you drive me to it. My muskets don’t miss fire.’’ ‘“No, nor your daggers blunt their points. I admit you can be deadly enough where you hate.’’ ‘Don’t make me hate you, then,’’ she retorted quickly. ‘‘Ts that possible, Paula?’’ I replied, turning to her with a smile. The instant change in this most remarkable woman at this one slight touch of tenderness was wonderful. She was hungering for the love I could no more give her than I could have given her the crown of Russia; and at ' this little accent of kindness she grew all softness and smiling love. ‘“Ah, God! You can do as you like with me, Alexis,’’ she cried ex- citedly. ‘‘ Just now you were rousing all the devil there is in me, and now d no more than a smile drives out of my heart every thought save my love for - you. If it isso easy to make me happy, why kill me with your coldness? Kiss me, Alexis.’’ She came to throw her arms round me, but wishing to avoid this caress, I remembered my little wound, and stepping back, kept her off. ‘Mind, I have a little hurt here ;’’ and I pointed to the place. Little did I think of the consequences of that simple action, or of the price I should have to pay for shirking a few distasteful kisses. She was at once all anxiety. ‘A hurt? A wound? ‘Tell me what itis. Have you—was it in conse- quence of rescuing your sister? Have you had some fight or other? ”’ I told her in as few words as I could, glad to turn her thoughts from her wish to caress me. When I had to admit that it was a slight sword thrust, however, she insisted upon seeing the wound as well as the places where I had torn my arm in the efforts to get rid of my bonds, No one could fail to see her care was prompted by deep feeling. I took off my coat and just turned up my sleeve to satisfy her curiosity, and held out my arm for her to see, laughing half shamefacedly as I did so, to assure her there was no cause for real anxiety, and that she was making much of nothing. But the effect it had on her was startling indeed. After glancing at the marks which were fast dying away, for my skin always heals very rapidly, she smoothed them gently and kissed them. ‘Tt is the left arm, Alexis ; always the left arm,’’ she said, glancing up Eomichook