The Argosy — page 322: what you’re looking at

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

308 Featherston’s Story. spite of all that could be done by those about her, poor lady—in spite of the two doctors who were called to her aid—she died.” Madame Cardiac was a great deal too much stunned for tears. She sank back in a chair with a face of stone, feeling that the room was turning upside down about her. An hour later, when she had somewhat gathered her scattered senses together, she set off for the little Maison Rouge. Her way lay past the house of M. Podevin; old M. Dupuis was turning out of it as she went by. Madame Cardiac stopped. *‘'Yes,” the Doctor said, when a few words had passed, “it is a most desolating affair. But, as madame knows, when Death has laid his grasp upon a patient, medical craft loses its power to resist him.” “Too true,” murmured Mary Cardiac. ‘And what is it that she has died of?” M. Dupuis shook his head to indicate that he did not know. **T could have wished for an examination, to ascertain the true cause of the seizure,” continued the Doctor, ‘“‘and I come now from expressing my regrets to my confrére, M. Podevin. He agrees with me in deciding that we cannot press it in opposition to the family. Captain Fennel was quite willing it should take place, but his wife, poor distressed woman, altogether objects to it.” Mary Cardiac went on to the house of death. She saw Lavinia, looking so peaceful in her stillness. A happy smile sat on her counte- nance. On her white attire lay some sweet fresh primroses, which Flore had placed there. Lavinia loved primroses. She used to say that when she looked at them they brought to her mind the woods and dales of Buttermead, always carpeted with the pale, fair blossoms in the spring of the year. Mrs. Fennel lay in a heavy sleep, exhausted by her night of distress, Flore informed Madame Cardiac ; and the Captain, anxious about her, was sitting in her room, to guard against her being disturbed. On the next day, Wednesday, in obedience to the laws of France relating to the dead, Lavinia Preen was buried. All the English gentlemen in the town, and some Frenchmen, including M. Cardiac and the sons of Madame Veuve Sauvage, assembled in the Place Ronde, and fell in behind the coffin when it was brought forth. They walked after it to the portion of the cemetery consecrated to Pro- testants, and there witnessed the interment. The tears trickled down Charley Palliser’s face as he took his last look into the grave, and he was honest enough not to mind who saw them. JoHNNY LUDLOW. CORNICE LOOKS (GO) i