Argosy, Vol. 1 (December 9, 1882) — page 228: what you’re looking at

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

THE QUEEN’S BODY GUARD. 221 As for the countess, her state of mind was that of a person who for the first time goes out in the water and finds himself beyond his depth. The poor girl had fallen deeply in love with this handsome, masterful American, but as yet she had not realized the fact. She only knew that she liked to be in his presence, and that the thought of his being in danger filled her with a deep dread she could not understand. ‘“ My countess, whatever you have done, you did in the goodness of your heart, and as for me, I shall never forget your gracious kindness.” In his fear lest his voice express too eloquently what he really felt, Cottrell spoke almost coldly. The countess noticed his tone, and she saw in it a veiled reproof. “I know I have lowered myself in your eyes,” she said in a gentle voice that expressed the pain she felt. ‘“ But in the loneliness of my lot you must find my excuse.” To have her think he could reproach her, even in his thoughts, was more than Cottrell could endure. ‘ Do not imagine for a moment that I would presume to upbraid you,” he said in a low voice that trembled with suppressed emotion. ‘‘ You, who are the most noble of women! If my words sounded cold to you it was because I dared not tell you all that I think of you; how much I He broke off suddenly and hurriedly left the room in an agony of fear lest he had revealed his secret. The countess gazed after him ia mute astonishment. Then she smiled happily to herself. Poor fellow!” she said softly; “so loyal and yet how bashful he is! He is afraid I will think him presumptuous. Poor fellow!” and she sighed in the way women do when something both pleases and touches them. And Cottrell’s secret was as yet safe. When Louis announced luncheon, the American looked keenly at him, to note any change in his demeanor that would show that he had been made aware of the new status of affairs, but the butler was as imperturbable as ever, and Cottrell came to the conclusion that he was as yet in ignorance of what had happened the night before. In this he was wrong, as he was destined to find out. It was an evening or so later, and Cottrell had strolled out on the front terrace for an after dinner smoke. He half expected a note from the count requesting a meeting on the beach that evening, and he had decided that in lieu of a better one Jean Daron would have to act as his second. Suddenly he was conscious of a glare in the sky, coming from the direction of the sea, but before he could look that way it was gone. On a sudden he thought of Struthers, and the arrangement he had made for letting him know of his arrival off the coast. It was to be three rockets at intervals of about thirty seconds. Cottrell gazed into the darkness whence the glare had come. Yes, there it was again. A tall shaft of light, rising high in the air, and then suddenly disappearing. A short interval and the third rocket shot up into the blackness, and then all was dark again. GORGE OOO A) UN ceo