Argosy, Vol. 1 (December 9, 1882) — page 133: what you’re looking at

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

126 THE ARGOGY. den violence. “ Even I had not thought you would try to tempt me from my duty!” “ You are wrong,” said Chris, sadly and very quietly. “I did not mean that. Go on.” He leaned back in his chair and covered his eyes with his hand. Daunt drew his paper toward him. “Christopher Courtney, Dr., to Mordaunt Ramsey, Jr.,” he read out. “ Items as follows: “From 1886 to 1893, inclusive, the wanton tarnishing of an honorable name. “During the same period the loss of a mother’s love, sympathy, and respect. ‘The health of mind and happiness. of an only and beloved sister. *“ Received payment He looked across at Chris, who sat clenching his hands on the arms of his chair. “It is unsigned,” he satd. There was a silence in the room which vibrated like a sound. ‘ They tell me that you were a good son,” Daunt proceeded, after a long pause, “‘ and that when your mother died, it was in your arms, and thanking God for you. If so, you must know what such a love 1s worth; you must see what you have deprived me of. ‘She loved me so dearly when J was a little chap! She held me in her arms, and told me stories, and called me her little son, her precious treasure. I was to be her protector, to love and tend her when I grew to bea man. You may not believe me when I tell you that this was my highest ambition, my best dream for the future. ‘When I was a boy I had no friend stancher than my mother. She un- derstood everything. I would have died rather than have grieved her. Did I ever touch a drop until my father died and I found out why people pitied me? Answer me that!” Chris did not speak nor move. Between his eyes and at the corners of his mouth. tortured lines were stamping themselves, and beads of sweat stood on his forehead. Daunt’s voice had lost its cold steadiness; 1t ran the gamut of agony and despair. ‘Was there much left for me to do, then, when I found she did not care © whether I came or went; when I came home, time after time, from the office, and found you there, and she did not speak to me? When you were her only thought, night and day, she took her walks with you, and spent her evenings with you, and it didn’t matter to her how and where I spent mine? When I found the whole world ringing with it, amd my mother—my mother !—made a butt and a byword? ” Chris put out his hand involuntarily, but Daunt was pitiless. His whole body was shaking and his eyes blazed. “There was Alice, too. Mother never cared much for Alice; she was always weakly and dull and not quick at seeing things ; but she was very fond GOH GoOOO ‘SS COLNT