The Argosy — page 395: what you’re looking at

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

THR ARGOSY. Aunt kélscité. 373 April 1, 1 smoking and wondering what had become of Genevitve. Suddenly from the inner room swelled the tones of a rich full voice in Beethoven’s “ Adelaide.” Surely it was as beautiful as Geneviéve’s!—it was plain she had been her aunt’s pupil ; he recognized the same pure style, free from all meretricious effect or ornament. There was a slight pause, and then he heard the first notes of the “ Norma” duet. No, when he heard them together, there could be no mistake as to which voice he preferred ; there was an angelic sweetness in the tones of his Genevietve, as he had begun to call her, that could not easily be matched. She did not sing again thatevening. Mademoiselle Félicité kept possession of the piano and poured forth song after song, fairly chaining Seton to his post at the window. He hoped that, now her aunt had returned, Geneviéve would be more visible, but she never came even to the window during the next two days. Every evening he renewed his conversation with Made- moiselle Trudin, when she appeared to water her flowers ; he also met her in the street and bowed to her; but still he did not speak of Gene- vitve. He was longing for next market-day; then he would waylay the young girl on her road tothe Place. Perhaps she, too, might be going to Dives, and he could see her at her grandmother's. Another day passed, and still no Geneviéve’s voice at the piano, no face at the window. Then he could restrain himself. no longer, and when Félicité appeared in the evening, he asked her abruptly if he had not heard another voice mingling with hers on the first evening of their acquaintance ? He was too full of Geneviéve to heed outward signs and tokens, or he might have noticed the dark shadow that fell across Félicité’s face, and the sudden glitter in her eyes. She looked unusually handsome this evening. She had dressed her- self with great care ; her exquisitely-fitting black silk gown revealed her well-shaped figure, and showed off, too, the delicate lace of her collar and cuffs, the former fastened up with an antique brooch. As yet no sil- ver hairs threaded her magnificent dark braids, as they wound closely round her perfect head, and coiled about the comb that held them. The shadow on her face deepened. How strange that he should have noticed Geneviéve’s voice! She had sent her off early next morning to Dives, so that must have been his only chance—unless “Tt was a young girl who is sometimes here.” She spoke very stiffly, and Seton saw at once how unwelcome the subject was. ‘ Had Monsieur been long at St. Roque before I had the pleasure of seeing him P” “Tf I tell,” thought Seton, “she looks angry enough to spint Gene- viéve away. I must play this game discreetly.” Sohe answered, ‘“ Oh! no,” and went on paying her more devoted court than ever. comicloooks (CO) mn _