The Argosy — page 313: what you’re looking at

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

Parkweater. 29G Over-wise cast of countenance, and a very light, scant moustache. Approaching her, he held out his hand. “Sophia, have you forgotten me?” For a few moments she stared as though she had. “It is not Frederick Lyvett !” she exclaimed at length. ‘‘T knew you would remember me. I was in the cigar-shop lower down, and saw you cross the street’ and come in here. I thought I could not-be mistaken, so I came and asked for you.” - “ At the first instant of my recognizing you,” she said, sitting down, and motioning him to an opposite chair, “‘ the emotion that arose to my mind was one of pleasure: but that is now giving place to pain. For the cruelty of your conduct is nsing up fast before me.” ‘What cruelty ? ” he returned. “Mr. Lyvett, if yon have only come to insult me, I would ask why you have come at all. I should have thought a gentleman would not be guilty of doing so.” ‘What have I done?” heasked in amazement. ‘I never was crueh to anyone, least of all to you. I think it was you who were cruel, not to leave your address when you quitted the old place. I have been home nearly twelve months, and have never been able to hear of you. If you forgot me, I never forgot you, and I should only be too glad to- renew our former friendship.” The young lady was keen-witted, both by nature and experience. These words of Frederick Lyvett caused a doubt to arise in her mind whether some deceit had not been formerly practised on her; or whether, indeed, it had been but a misapprehension. Ever since Frederick Lyvett’s departure on that sea-voyage that had separated them, a very sore feeling had lain on her mind in regard to it and to him. When you went away, Mr. Lyvett, you pretended to me that you were sent to Valparaiso on pressing business.” “So I was.” | ‘But as soon as you had sailed we were informed that you went of your own accord, and that it was a planned thing: planned that you might break with me.” ‘¢ Who said that?” “The firm. And they turned my father and mother out of the house the same day.” He sat looking at her for some minutes in evident bewilderment, and she at him. Light seemed to dawn upon him. “Then, by Jove! you may depend that it wasa planned thing. Planned by them against us both, Sophia ; planned to separate us. If I had but suspected this at the time! I remember it did seem to me Strange that I, inexperienced, and only just taken into the business, should be started out on an important mission.” “You did not willingly—purposely—run away from me, then ?” CORnniclooolkks