The Argosy — page 95: what you’re looking at

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

The Missing Rubies. 85 “ Ah,” sighed Mr. Redburn, a little soothed, ‘I am glad you are mot more than nineteen, my child. It.will be such a pleasure to direct you and manage things for you. I believe the charge of you will prolong my life.” ‘“‘ What will he say by-and-bye, when he finds that some one else has undertaken the charge of me?” mused Beatrice. And then, remembering her father’s old friendship with Mr. Redburn, she re- solved to hear his domineering speeches with exemplary patience. After all, he had no power over her life’s happiness. Her fate had been decided before he came from India. Out of consideration for his health, Mr..Redburn went early to rest. A staid man-servant, who had come home with him, attended him to his room every night. And Beatrice looked after the retreat- ing figure with genuine pity for his feebleness. “Poor old man,” sighed Alma Lindrick, when the door had closed upon her father’s guest. She had risen from the piano, and had crossed over to the corner where Beatrice sat. There was a small fire burning in the grate, for Mr. Redburn found the evening chill. ‘Are you not too warm here?” Alma asked, with a kind little air of concern. She laid her hand as she spoke on the girl’s smooth cheek, and the caress seemed strange to Beatrice. . She had not ex- pected Miss Lindrick to treat her so affectionately. ‘A little too warm,” she admitted, rising. ‘‘ What a lovely night it is! How beautiful your grounds are looking in this moon- light !” . “Come to the window, and you will see them better,” said Alma, leading her across the room. ‘Don’t you like to hear the chestnuts rustling in the evening wind? They are great friends of mine—those dear old trees ; they always seem to whisper to me of ‘the days that are no more!’” There was something plaintive in Miss Lindrick’s voice ; her face, illumined by the moonlight, looked sweet and spiritual at that moment. Beatrice glanced at her, and began to think that she should find it no difficult matter to be her friend. “They are whispering other things to you,” the plaintive voice continued. ‘ They are saying that your happy days are yet to come. You are young, and life is just beginning to be very sweet. Is not that true?” ‘‘ Perhaps,” Beatrice confessed. “Ah, I thought so! It must be dreadful to be torn away from those you love best, and brought here to be the companion of that poor old man! We cannot hope that you will enjoy your visit to us, although we will do all we can to make it pleasant.” “It will be pleasant, I am sure. You are very kind,” said Beatrice, with genuine gratitude. “You must find it hard to bear with Mr. Redburn’s dictatorial manner,” Alma went on confidentially. ‘‘ And he really has no right to slo comicbooks.com