The Argosy — page 369: what you’re looking at

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

The Missing Rubies. 351 a faint pang of remembrance. She had had many such pangs since that last talk with Beatrice on the ivy-grown bridge. “What a morning, Dorothy!” she said, cheerfully, looking away down the long garden, with its glowing colours, and sweet, tremulous lights and shadows. ‘* Beautiful,” replied the elder sister absently. ‘Jane, I want you to read these letters. But first I think I had better prepare your mind for their contents.” ‘Is there anything very dreadful in them?” asked poor Jane anxiously. ‘It does seem hard that any bad news should come on such a lovely day as this!” “Nothing dreadful, of course. Dear me, Jane, I wish you would try to conquer your nervousness. You are not equal to the slightest shock, I see! Now do give me your attention, and be calm; I want you to understand everything before Caroline comes downstairs.” ‘*T am listening, Dorothy,” Jane answered meekly. ‘¢ The first letter is from Charles, and he encloses one which he has received from Godwin. It appears that Godwin is now able to clear himself from the suspicion that has been attached to him so long. The ruby necklace is found. Godwin desires us to appoint a day for a family meeting at this house; and Charles writes to say that Monday will suit him very well. But that is not all; it seems that Mr. Corder has adopted Godwin as a son, and he will bea rich man. How in- credible it is!” “ But this is very good news,” said Jane, with a tearful joy that made her look young again. ‘I thought from your face that it was bad.” “TI cannot look at it as unmixed good. You do not realise the unpleasant scene that we shall have at this family meeting. I wish Godwin would just send back the necklace, and leave us to take his innocence for granted. But Charles does not seem to see it in that light. He says that the boy ought to have a fair hearing.” “Of course that is right,” Jane ventured to say. ‘It is right. But Charles does not live with Caroline, and we do. When Caroline gets excited the whole household is disquieted for weeks. Sweet peace—how one longs to preserve it!” There was a dim notion floating through Jane’s brain that peace ought not to be preserved at the expense of justice. But she had never been able to put her ideas readily into the form of words. ‘Godwin wishes Mr. Redburn and Colonel Lindrick to be present at his vindication,” Dorothy continued. ‘Charles has written to Colonel Lindrick, and fixed Monday for the meeting. I wish it were all over! What ws/7 Caroline say ?” “Why need we tell her directly?” said Jane, brightening at her own suggestion. ‘Why need we all be made uncomfortable till next Monday comes? To-day is only Wednesday. Let us wait until Sunday before we say anything to Caroline.” ole comicbooks.com