The Argosy — page 159: what you’re looking at

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

Playing with Fire. 147 to be the one I want.” -At this moment he first perceived Mrs. Severn, who had hitherto remained speechless from astonishment. “ This lady—your mother—does she know ?” Mrs. Severn came forward: “I do not know how this false report of your death originated, sir,” she said; “but I do know that your present conduct is utterly unjustifiable.” Howard’s conscience did not seem to show him matters in this light, for he still kept his arm round Laura, who, in the delirious joy of this recovery of him, was utterly passive, and let him do with her as he would. ‘Mrs. Severn,” he said, “ what, under Heaven, can you mean? I love your daughter, truly and honourably, and I am as innocent of any insult to.you or to her as is the dead man whose fate you believed to be mine.” “What dead man?” It was Mrs. Severn who spoke. ‘* My cousin, Howard Brett Scott, who died two days ago, within a hundred yards of this house.” Hope long crushed stirred in Laura’s heart, and shone on her eyes. ‘Was it your cousin who deceived my cousin Constance ?” “It was certainly not /, beloved. If ‘haf is all that has stood be- tween us, away with it for ever. I had the merest bowing acquain- tance with Miss Harewood. My cousin was in the same set with her. But Lady Gamgee can tell you all about it, I dare say, if Mrs. Severn require further assurance. You cannot doubt me any more.” “No,” said Laura; and Mrs. Severn came forward with outstretched hand: “Forgive us; we have both misjudged you. Iam assured of the truth of your story. Ah! here is Lady Gamgee.” And she went into the writing-room to meet and greet that lady, who soon told her all that was needful about the other Howard and his efforts to obtain a wife with a fortune large enough to free him from his creditors. Howard and Laura were alone once more in the little boudoir. “Well, what is my answer to be?” he said, looking with great per- sistence into the downcast face. ‘What do you want me to say?” “ Say—‘ Howard, I love you,’” was his moderate request. “T wonder whether you will care to hear me say that when you know all, or whether you will not despise me and my love too?” And with that she told him all. “Can you forgive me?” she ended. ‘‘ Do you not hate me for being so wicked ?” ‘Perhaps I might find it hard to forgive you if you had carried out your cruel resolve. But, after all, this misery was intended not for me, but for poor Howard, and he is beyond the reach of our punishment. And I am here, thank God, still within the reach of your love.” comicbooks.com