The Argosy — page 23: what you’re looking at

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

THREE THEORIES OF A CRIME. 215 anxiously, day after day, for a reply. Each night I retired with a prayer upon my lips, and each morning I awoke with a newborn hope in my heart. Neither John nor I referred to the subject. By mutual agreement neither of us was to visit her pending her decision. 7 ‘‘ By the merest accident I met her. She looked pale and worried. ‘““ Why do you not come to see me, Henry?’ she asked, with a smile that was plainly forced. ‘Have you completely forgotten the little sweetheart of other days?’ : ‘““*T am simply waiting, Lydia,’ I answered in a shamefaced way, for I thought of the compact bound by my sacred honor. | “Waiting ?’ she questioned, with a smile that drove me nearly mad. ““Yes, I will—I am very busy these days, you see, and *? I stam- mered very awkwardly. ‘The smile faded from her face and a look of pained surprise swept over her lovely features, as she passed on without another word. ‘“Oh, God! If I had only known at that time the true significance of her actions and her words, what awful misery it might have saved us all? ‘‘ But I will pass over these harrowing details. That night my friend, my foster brother, received his answer. It was ‘ Yes.’ ‘“ My words are feeble to tell the anguish of my soul. “I congratulate you, John,’ I said brokenly, pressing his hand as warmly as I could. ‘ Never let her know that I have suffered.’ ‘I buried myself deep in my work. I threw myself madly into the practice of my profession. But I could not forget my sorrow. After a time I grew more resigned to the situation, and I pledge you my sacred word of honor that never once in all those sad days and dark nights of agony did a bitter pang of jealousy enter my mind. ‘To me John Sater was still my friend and brother and Lydia Markham was his promised wife. ‘The wedding day drew near. I had planned to go away on a vacation until it was over, but John would not hear of it. “It will cause talk,’ he said. ‘I have never yet told any of the cir- cumstances to Lydia. She rarely mentions your name.’ My heart sank as he spoke the words. ‘She has no idea that you have suffered, Henry, and it will be a good chance for you to meet her, and school yourself to do it regularly hereafter. We must not let this marriage of mine divide us. There isa good fellow, now. Won’t you stay ?’ ‘In the quiet of my own room I thought it all over. Yes, John was right. I should school myself to meet her. ‘As I entered the dining room the following morning John looked up at me inquiringly. I took his hand. ‘I will remain,’ I said simply. “Thank you, Henry, I could not do without you,’ was his answer. ‘“I quietly set about getting another position, and sent out letters to friends in various parts of the country, one to the managers of the Samaritan here. I could not bear to meet her every day. ‘“The wedding passed off without distressing incident. Once, when the bride caught my glance by accident, I fancy she slightly paled, byt I con- soled myself by the thought that it must haye been only my imagination. I[ CoOpmmicooolxs (S@)