The Argosy — page 224: what you’re looking at

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

210 How tt Happened. “T am-sure we shall never see him alive again,” I cried, tearfully. “ The loss of the money has destroyed his reason, as well as, broken his heart. No man in his senses could imagine it was any sin to have taken this poor little likeness. And then just see how he has ended his letter !” It was hard and dreary work to parry the gentle inquiries made by Frances concerning the fate of her note. I am sure that she guessed that some new misfortune had occurred, of which she was not to be made aware. Before morning a new and more violent and dangerous access of fever came on than any from which she had yet suffered. Fenella arrived early next day. I took her into my Toom, before allowing her to see Frances, i in order to warn her against making mention of Louis Carter in the sick chamber. I was pleased to see the younger girl back again, and she was most caressing and affectionate, and much subdued by her grief and anxiety about her sister. We sat close together, hand in hand, upon, a low couch, while I related the history of all that had happened since she left. I concluded that she had not heard of the lost money, as, for many reasons, both Frances and I had studiously avoided mentioning the organist to Fenella in our letters. I therefore began at the begin- ning of the story, but as I proceeded I saw, by the expression of her face, that I was telling her no news. There was a gleam of angry enjoyment in her eyes, I fancied, as I dwelt upon the distress and suffering caused by the disappearance of the pocket-book. At last, I was shocked to see a smile of malicious pleasure hovering about her lips. I dropped her hand suddenly. ‘Fenella,” I cried, with bitter reproach in my voice, “ will you never allow me to forgive you for all the trouble you have caused? for all the mischief you have done? Do you know that I believe the loss of this money has resulted in the death of Louis Carter, as good and honourable and kind a man as ever lived; and that it is most probable Frances will also die, . when she discovers how matters are now ?” While I was speaking the bright glow of health faded quickly out of Fenella’s face. Her features assumed an expression of horror and alarm, such as I had never seen displayed in any countenance before. She shrank away from me, uttering a moan of terrible distress. I knelt down beside her, and spoke more gently, being now full of self- reproach for my harshness. As soon as she could recover herself sufficiently, however, she rose up, and pushed me away from her. She then covered her face with her hands and burst into tears. ‘““Do not touch me,” she cried, passionately, shuddering as she spoke. “I can never be happy in all my life again, for I am a mur- derer. I had his money safe all this time. I only kept it to revenge myself upon him.” ze0 by GOORIE comicbooks.com