The Argosy — page 90: what you’re looking at

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

80 Eve: An Idyll. and truth, worthy the highest sphere, all such ideas vanished from my mind ; and now I offer you my hand as well as heart, my rank, my name, and fortune, only too proud to call you mine, if you will have me. Sweetheart, answer me.” “Oh! my lord, my generous, noble lord, my every hope and wish is now fulfilled—I have met with one to love, and worthy of my love! But hold!” She paused, and mischief sparkled in her eye. “ Alas! your generosity is all in vain. It cannot be. Eve cannot marry you, you are too far above her.” “Oh! do not say it; you are above me as far as one human being can be above another. Oh! Eve, my love!” “Now stay. I said Eve could not marry you; but suppose that Eve is naught—suppose in place of her you see a vain court beauty, the very vainest and most frivolous of all that vain and foolish throng, one whom you would not wed had she an angel’s beauty, and the dowry of a queen? Alas! alas! that it should be so.” “Why, what means this? Who are you, then?” “‘T am that thing of paint and patches, of airs and affectations—the Countess Millamant—you would not wed her. Eve cannot marry you. What’s to be done?” ‘You are the Countess Millamant! Then I was right. I saw the likeness through the change of dress. Oh! more dear than ever! I know you now. What I then saw was but a mask concealing the most lovely thing on earth |” And then—must it be owned—these two high personages kissed and hugged each other, as though they were but the rustic pair they had seemed. What more is there to tell? Prudence and all the town were re- galed with a brilliant wedding, and the lovely Marchioness of River- dale still sometimes deigned to reign as queen of fashion, though with a different court. They spent the greater part of their time in the country, surrounded by contented dependants and a growing family: showing by their example that moderation in all things is the best road to happiness. comicbooks.com