The Argosy — page 26: what you’re looking at

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

218 only, Henry, all my life. THE ARGOSY, Let us leave here together ! Bid me follow you, and in some other place find that true companionship of soul of which a cruel fate deprived us here ! ’ ‘“I was shocked and horrified at the proposal. Neither of us noted that John had entered, and stung to the heart by her words, stood rooted to the ground. ‘“ “Lydia, you are mad,’ I answered sternly. _ my disappointment gives me pain, but John Sater is my friend and brother. You can never be aught to me but John’s wife !’ ‘While I spoke, she moved as if to throw herself upon me, but witha stern gesture I warned her back. ‘‘'The next moment John had stepped between us, white to the lips, but with a look upon his face which I shall remember to my dying day. ‘“*T heard your words, Lydia,’ he said, with quick, sharp emphasis, ‘and I did not need to wait for Henry’s answer. before the words were spoken. Lydia, you cannot be yourself today. will forget that this has occurred, but I have one warning to express. you disclosed to me your preference before our wedding day you would now have been the wife of Henry Throck. - Fate has willed it otherwise. are my wife and such you must remain,’ I knew what it would be We Had You ‘It is true I loved you and and here he raised his right hand to heaven, ‘ but I solemnly swear that if you ever leave me in that way, or prove faithless to the vows you willing pledged the day you wed me, I will strike you dead !’ > ‘“ She sank, sobbing, upon the lounge. in her direction, I left the place, followed by John. ‘‘Six months passed away, and found me greatly changed. in my new duties, and rapidly acquiring an enviable private practice, the old wound had gradually healed. That I still loved I do not deny, but I loved the memory of the dear little dark haired sweetheart whose books I used to carry and whose dainty form I lifted over many a muddy way. the woman who pleaded with me to wreck her husband’s home and sacrifice ‘my honor. I could think of her calmly now and wish her, as in truth I always did since her marriage, long life and happiness as John’s wife. ‘It was not with a lover’s joy that I met her the day she visited me at She the hospital. had left her home and friends forever. I was pained and shocked when she told me her story. I begged and pleaded with her to return. I scolded, argued, and commanded, but all to no avail. to be near me. She urged her love for me; But my sacred honor was my protecting shield. Engrossed Without a word, without a look e It was not She wanted her hatred of home and John. I would not listen to her. Jones has testified to my condition when she left me, but he could not tell the court, nor can I express, the sufferings I endured. I had begged her not to come to me again at the hospital, and at parting adjured her to go home. ‘“Several days passed, and I hoped that she had seen the right way clearly before her and returned to her husband. But it was not so. I received a letter from her threatening to call upon me at the hospital if did I took my pen to answer, but my hand not visit her. What was I to do? (S@) book (Eo)