The Argosy — page 229: what you’re looking at

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

Recollections of a Governess. 213 She took his one hand in her own two trembling ones and kissed it, sobbing. ‘Bless you, Helen,” he cried, sadly. ‘I had so much to say, and it seems so hard, now I see you. One day Harry said, ‘I am sorry for Aunt Helen, Colonel. You don’t know how unhappy she 1s: she never laughs. My uncle would do anything in the world for her, but she hates him.’ Forgive me, Helen, but I said, ‘ Hardly that, why did she marry him?’ ‘Oh, don’t you know, Colonel, why she married?’ and then the boy told me. I suppose I betrayed myself, or perhaps he’ knew of our early engagement, for after the fight, when I carried him into my tent, and did all I could for him before the doctor came, he said, ‘Colonel, I want to ask you one question?’ I was bending over him, for his voice was almost a whisper, ‘Ask it, my boy,’ I replied. ‘‘He-looked up at me. ‘ Aunt Helen?’ was all he said, but his eyes asked the question, and I answered it. Then he became very faint, but afterwards, when he had recovered a little, he added, ‘ Colonel, the Great Captain has come and called for me ; I shall never see England again. My uncle was very good to me always—all my life. I wish— Colonel, don’t. be angry with me—I wish Aunt Helen would try and love him ever so httle. She would be happier herself, and I should be glad of that, for she was very kind to me, very. Will you ask her ?’ “Fhe surgeon came in then; he examined his wounds, shook his head, gave him something to ease the pain, and said to me, as he left, ‘He'll not get through the night, poor lad.’ ‘I was able to return to him an hour before he died. He was quite sensible—told me about his watch, and the prayer-book you had given him, and repeated the words you had written under his name: ‘Continue Chnrist’s faithful soldier and servant unto your life’s end.’ © Vou’ll give it her, Colonel?’ he murmured. ‘Give it her, and ask her to try.’ ‘God 1s Love,’ were his last words. ‘‘Helen, this was a strange message—a strange task to set me! In health and strength beyond me quite. But since the Great Captain, as the poor boy said, has sent His summons for me also, my eyes see clearer, and I thought, if my last words could bring peace to you, I should ” “Oh, Guy—Guy—Guy !” she sobbed, covering her face with her hands. ‘“‘So now, Helen, farewell.” He put his hand on her head, “God bless you,” and that was their last parting. When she looked up he was gone. I think I cried as much as poor Helen. ECOMicoOOKS.CoOm —_)