The Argosy — page 383: what you’re looking at

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

Beatrix. 363 “ Oh, Beatrix,” said poor Curzon ; and took her hand passionately between his own. **] feared so,” Beatrix said, tenderly ; “and now you must never come here again. Hush—I am in eamest: surely you yourself must see the necessity for that.” With sweet earnestness, she laid her hand again upon his arm, and raised her large pleading grey eyes to his; and Cur- zon, who had been eagerly watching the variations of her small brown face during the past few minutes, seeing it now so close to his own, in a mad moment stooped and kissed her. Perhaps, under the circumstances, it was the very best thing he could have done: at least it put an end toall sentimentality on the spot, and this latter article was very largely in the ascendant just then. Beatrix was by no means one of your crying sort on these occasions, being merely capable of going into a towering rage; and therefore into a towering rage she went forthwith. ‘‘ How dare you,” she gasped, “how dare you? The idea of your so insulting me ! Get off my garden this moment, and go home; and see if I don’t go up to Felicia to-morrow morning and tell her every bit of it.” “You can tell Felicia what you please,” Curzon answered meekly, feeling utterly subdued by this outburst, besides being conscience- stricken into the bargain. ‘I deserve all you can say, and more, but it was the thought of losing you—of never seeing you again—that made me so far forget myself. Itis my only excuse, and—oh, Beatrix, my darling, I will go away from you for ever if you wish it; only forgive me before I go.” ‘‘T won't,” said Miss Falkland, indignantly. ‘I never will. Why do you stay, then, when I desire you to go?” ‘‘ Because I cannot leave you inanger,” Curzon pleaded desperately. ‘Surely, when you see me so wretched, you will give me a kind word to take away with me. If you say I must marry Felicia, I will do so, but for all that, you know well that it is you alone possess my heart. Beatrix, say I am forgiven, and I promise you shall never see me again.” “Well, on those conditions I forgive you,” Miss Falkland said, solemnly, extending to him her hand as atoken of pardon. “‘ And—and —I do hope you will be happy, Curzon, and—Felicia is a great deal a nicer girl than / am, and will make you happier—I know ; al though ” With which faint attempt at consolation, Beatrix burst into tears, and ran away to hide her sorrows 1n her own chamber. ‘ Curzon,” said Felicia. “ Felicia,” said Curzon. It was the evening of the same day, and they were both stationed outside on the very same balcony where Stainer had’so nearly betrayed COMIC OOOKS. EO in —_)