The Argosy — page 325: what you’re looking at

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

Within their Gates. 309 6 made his way back to his inn, and drove galloping off to warn me: he could not do otherwise, he said, by one who was his guest, though it was a wrong thing to do, and he might get into trouble over it were it known. Which it never will’ be, Mary : for you and I alone will ever be cognisant of it. And now you know all.” “ And you have left our house to escape?” she gasped. “Just so. If I can succeed, all will be well. My intention is to make my way as swiftly as possible to a town on the coast : marry you there, if you will come with me, sail abroad directly, and remain in private until the matter is settled. I am certain my uncle will take steps to settle it and free me the instant he returns. His illness has been so great that he could not even be told of the trouble, Will you go with me, Mary?” “T don’t understand you,” she faintly gasped. “Will you go with me, trusting to my honour to protect you, as I would a sister, on what must be a secret flight? Or will you follow me to the town we shall fix upon—I think it must be Liverpool—join me | there, and be married before we sail?” “T cannot do either. Oh, Francis |”—with a burst of agony—“ you ought not to ask me. Without my father’s consent I will never marry even you—and you must know that he would not give it. He has gone out of his way to warn and save you, and I can hardly understand his doing it: but he is full of stern probity.” Mr. Stanley—we will give him his true name at last—compressed his pale lips. “Ts this your true decision, Mary Owen ?” “Heaven knows that it Aas to be—that I have no alternative.” “And yet you have professed to care for me!” “ Professed !” she echoed—the only word catching her ear. “You are ready to send me alone infp exile, not caring whether I live or die?” ; The accusation was bitterly unjust—and she felt it to be so to her heart’s core. ‘“ Knowing all this,” she said, “ why did you seek my love?” a ° “ Things will be made straight,” he answered. ‘ And with my father? We have compared him sometimes to some of those olds Scotch Covenanters—who, in their uprightness, never forgave a sin.” “<It seems I was mistaken in you, Mary.” “No, no,” she answered, with a great sob. ‘“ But—how can I do this thing that you require of me?” ° She looked at him imploringly, her hands clasped in pain, her face up-turned. The trial was almost more than she could bear. Mr. Stanley strode about on the narrow path before the seat. “You are like all women, Mary. I thought 'you were different— comicbooks.com