Argosy, Vol. 1 (December 9, 1882) — page 90: what you’re looking at

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

A DASH FOR A ‘THRONE. 83 Probably mere curjosity was the motive, but to me it seemed as if the look were instinct with anxiety, doubt, and appeal. Suddenly I saw her start and glance round; and 1f ever a face told of fear and repulsion, hers did, for all the struggle that her pride made to repress the evidence of her emotion and to force up a smile to cover an aching heart. Then I saw the cause of the change. A man came into view, and my heart gave a great leap of anger that had long slumbered. I had known him in the old life for the falsest scoundrel that ever cheated a friend or ruined a woman. The mere sight of him set me on fire. He had dealt me = foul and treacherous wrong, and when I had sought him to call him to account, he had fled, and I could never trace him. I watched him now as he spoke to the girl, and my old hate awoke till | could have found it in me to rush out there and then, to cast his foulness in his face, and choke his life out of him. And my brow gathered in an angry scowl as I watched the girl’s struggle between pride and loathing when she answered him and shrank back from the sensual, brute stare of his eyes. As soon as I could keep my voice steady I called my companion to the window. ‘Who are those?” I asked: : ‘The Countess Minna, the prince’s only daughter, now his only child. It is she who, under heaven, will be the queen of———”” He checked himself when he caught my look of intense surprise. ‘And the man. Who is he?” “The Count von Nauheim, her future husband? ” ‘“ God help her, then,” said I, with involuntary fervor. My companion started and 'ooked at me. | “Do you know - “I know nothing,” I replied very curtly. “ These are no concerns of mine. But I can read a face.” He looked at me searchingly; but I had taken my watch out and was playing with the guard. ‘“ This prince seems a devil of a long time se-ding for me. If he keeps me much longer I shall lose my train back.” I spoke indifferently, throwing myself into a chair to think. I sat a long time buried in these old rustled reflections until the chain of thought was snapped abruptly, and I sprang to my feet as a great cry ran through the castle and the sound of a woman’s sobbing. “ What’s that?” I asked of the man with me, who had changed color and was manifestly disturbed. ‘TI don’t understand it,” he said, after a long pause, during which he went and stood by the door as if doubting whether I might try to leave. The sounds of confusion in the castle increased. Servants were hurrying in all directions; but io one came to us. Later on, the toll c1 a heavy bell resounded with vibrating echoes through the hot, sleepy air. A minute after it was repeated, and before the sound had died away the elder of the two men came back into the room. He was deadly pale and so agitated that his voice trembled. He approached me and bowed with signs of deep respect. COMIC OOO@ CO