The Argosy — page 89: what you’re looking at

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

Eve: An Idyll. 79 weather. The Countess lingered onat the Cottage, while the temporary eclipse of its brightest luminary filled the town with wonder and Tegret ; and, must we add, with scandal too, for many a tale was invented to fill up the void caused by the lack of real information. But all must come to an end, even the bliss of lovers. One morning about ten days later, Prudence appeared before her mistress her face full of excitement, her mouth full of tidings. “Oh! madam, oh ! my lady—such news, such glorious news ! I give you a month of Sundays to guess it in ; but no, you'll never hit upon it. What think you? Our peasant lover, our handsome clown, he is no clown, nor peasant either, no Ralph, no Stedman. He is the famous travelled beau, new to the town—the young Marquis of Riverdale, heir to the dukedom of Broadlands, and the wealth of the Indies besides. His man has just been down at the inn, and told us all! And he—_” But she paused astonished. The lady, instead of being overwhelmed with joy, burst into tears, and sobbed as if her heart would break. “Why, madam, what is this? Have you not understood? He is a man of quality, a nobleman, and you can marry him at once,” “J will not marry him! I waken from a blissful dream to dull reality. He is no better than the rest. What! he’s been laughing at me, playing a part intending to deceive a country girl. Where shall I go? I’m sick of the town, now of the country, too. Ah, me! the world is wide, but holds no happiness.” “No happiness! not when I tell you you can wed your heart’s choice without reproach or blame? Sure, madam, had he been Ralph Stedman, the bailiff, you never would have sunk so low as to have married him.” **T would, and lived with him, ’mid fields, and trees, and flocks, and cooing doves, for ever and for ever.” “Oh! my lady ——” But she was interrupted by the entrance of the culprit himself. He entered high in hope, beaming with joy; but instead of the sunshine he expected, beheld a stormy sky. ‘‘ What,” cried my lady, “is it possible you dare appear before me? I am amazed at your audacity.” “‘ Dear love, what is it?” “What is’t, indeed! I know it all—I know your deceit, your false- hood, your base intentions—oh! do not attempt to deny—what else could be between a man of your station and a woman of mine!” “¢ Alas! I see that some ill-fortune has betrayed my secret before I intended it should be known, but,” and he knelt before her, “ hear me. It is quite true that when we first met, as I loitered here for fishing in the river, I concealed my rank, thinking to amuse myself at the expense of so fair a maid—what more I thought, or hoped, I will not say ; but listen to a penitent. Since I knew you, your sweetness, your purity, comlichbooks.cona-