The Argosy — page 79: what you’re looking at

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

The Missing Rubies. 6g When the song came to an end, Beatrice turned, and found those lovely eyes looking her through and through. The rich bloom had faded from the perfect face that was bending close to hers, and it was a changed voice, sharp and eager, that said quickly : “Where did you learn that air, Miss Ward ?” “From my master,” Beatrice answered, surprised at the tone and look of the questioner. “It is very easy ; any one could learn it.” “It is taken from some opera, I suppose?” said the novelist, who had followed Madame Valerot to the piano. ‘ But I don’t remem- ber —_ ‘No, no, no,” cried the auburn-haired woman, impulsively. ‘“ It is not taken from any opera! It is an old Polish melody; and the words that you have sung are not the right words,” she added to Beatrice. : “Very likely not,” Miss Ward said, quietly. ‘I have never seen the music written, and I did not know that it was Polish.” ‘Why, Pauline, I never thought you cared much for music,” said Mrs. Wyville, coming up and laying a hand on her friend’s shoulder. Madame Valerot recovered herself, and smiled sweetly, although her face was very pale. . ‘Certain airs always affect me strangely,” she replied, with her pretty foreign accent. ‘And no one can help being touched by Miss Ward’s singing.” The compliment was graceful enough, but Beatrice did not believe that her voice alone could have stirred up Madame Valerot’s feelings. Some other influences must have been at work ; old memories had been awakened, and Madame did not care to own the truth. Was there just a suspicion of mystery attached to this beautiful woman with the innocent brown eyes? Beatrice looked at her with a new interest, and wondered if that child-like face had its own unwritten story ? The Polish air was the last song of the evening. Madame Valerot made an effort to rouse herself after the guests were gone, and began a confidential talk with Beatrice. Mrs. Wyville had said that Mrs Milton had some drawing-rooms unoccupied. Would Miss Ward describe them ? “‘T think they may suit me very we'l,” said Madame, with a little sigh of weariness. ‘I want rest and perfect retirement. My health has failed lately, and I should like to be in a quiet house—just such a house as Mrs. Milton’s. I will call to-morrow.” She looked so pale and tired when she said good-night, that Beatrice believed in the failing health and the desire for rest. Certainly, there was a fascination about this woman’s pleading looks and gentle tones. She appealed to your sympathy at once, and seldom failed to get the very thing that she wanted. comicbooks.con