The Argosy — page 251: what you’re looking at

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

Lady Creighton. 237 forgotten her, Colonel Elton ? She was but a sprite when you last saw her!” And her dark passionate eyes burned lovingly as she presented the beautiful innocent girl at her side. Lady Creighton moved away, doubtless hoping to avoid further con- versation with the man she had just escaped. She might as well have shunned the outstretched hand of death. Colonel Elton was her shadow. At last the rooms began to thin, but he still lingered, and Lady Creighton’s face whitened and sharpened perceptibly. At last we were the only remaining guests. Self- possessed and inflexible, he spoke. ‘Again presuming on old time privileges, Lady Creighton, I have remained for a quiet chat about that Germany in which we both have occasion to feel a deep interest.” I was prepared for hauteur at this point; but remorse had done its work, and she bowed shiveringly. “Germany!” echoed the lovely Beatrice, who was hovering near her mother. ‘Oh, mamma! I can’t hear it mentioned without a shudder. That terrible—terrible old ——” “ Beatrice, go!” interrupted Lady Creighton, almost sharply. “It grows late. These gentlemen will not detain me long, and I will soon join you.” And again the mother-love flamed in her magnificent eyes as she watched the girl’s retreating form. The last floating thread of white gossamer lost to her view, she dropped into a fauteuil, motioning us to seats near her. The quiet even voice took me by surprise, and also the courage with which she dashed into an evidently-dreaded subject. “Doubtless you have heard some of the sad details of our residence in Germany, though not the saddest. Nina’s madness was a family secret, kept from all save a few faithful servants, and we naturally preferred the seclusion of a foreign country for our darling to the publicity and horrors of a madhouse. In Germany we could guard her with secret as well as loving care.” Elton’s broad chest heaved at that startling mention of madness, which accounted for certain grated windows and iron-bound doors. He replied nonchalantly: “T heard many things, Lady Creighton—some of which I will tell you. When I was first ordered off to India, I bore with me the hope of winning a sweet girl’s love—and I left one in London who had both the will and the power to keep me informed of all concerning the lovely Nina—Sir Robert Creighton’s one precious darling. Conse- quently, I learned in due time that old Sir Robert’s heart and hand had been won by a’ peerless Italian widow—that Nina had been gifted with a mother. “Trampling all obstacles under foot, I returned for a brief visit, I returned to find that my wild idolatry had gained' the coveted teward comicbooks.com ~