The Argosy — page 324: what you’re looking at

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

308 Within their Gates. “ Provided you could get my father’s consent,” she timidly answered, reddening much. “Just so. But, Mary, I want you to fulfil your promise without his consent. I want you to trust to me wholly.” ‘What do you mean, Francis ? ” “Before I tell you exactly what I mean, you must hear a sad tale. Listen. Your father has just heard it. I will make it as brief as possible. “There lived a banker in a handsome and populous county town. He was a rich man. He had no children: but he made almost a son of a nephew, educated him extravagantly, sent him to college, supplied him well with cash, and then took him into the bank’s counting-house. The young man went the way of many other young men who are thus reared : he got into debt and trouble. Tempted by one evil companion, he made use of money belonging to the bank: or, rather, made money by pledging a deed or two that belonged to it. The nephew had intended to redeem and replace these deeds before anything could have been discovered. But, like many another, I suppose, in a similar strait, he found he could not. Discovery came. Unfortunately not by the banker himself; he was gone abroad for his failing health ; but by his partner—a plodding old curmudgeon, who disliked the nephew. The young man had to fly ; to fly, to avoid being taken for the crime ; and he got away safely. Have you followed my story, Mary?” “Yes,” answered Mary, her cheeks and lips perfectly bloodless. “‘What—was—his name?” “The young man’s? His name was Francis Shepard Stanley.” A long, terriblz pause. Mary's beating heart seemed as if it would burst its bounds. ; “You understand all too well now, my darling. This afternoon your house was surprised at the early return of your father, who came at once to my room. When he reached his destination this morning, and was going about his business in the town, here, there, and every- where, he met that good tutor of our acquaintance, Mr. Alfred Hale. Mr. Hale had just arrived in the town alsp. His business, it seems, during his absence has been to ferret out who I am and all about me.” A groan of dismay broke from Mary’s lips. Her companion gathered the hand, he held, closer into his. “ My gentleman was longer over his work than he hoped to have ‘been, wanting the clue: for he did not know my Christian or surname, and my second baptismal name, Shepard, which I really have never -used, did not appear in the public advertisements about me. How- ever, Mr. Hale succeeded, and has set my enemies on my track. ‘Some local warrant, or backing of a warrant, was required, -it appears, before they could pounce upon me; and that was to be obtained in the county town in course of this morning. All this Halé triumphantly told your father. He, good man, listened tl cali ns , cTuetly, aid id nothing, but, CO