The Argosy — page 240: what you’re looking at

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

22I MADAME LAROCHE. ” HERE he goes again!” thought old Madame Laroche, gazing ae: fretfully after her handsome young nephew as he crossed the porch of the pretty rose-embowered cottage opposite her own imposing residence. ‘‘ What evil genius brought that Louise Deville to her sister’s just at the time that Maurice came here, nobody knows, unless indeed it was Madame Deville herself. I daresay she thought Maurice would be a fine catch for her husband’s poor sister.—Ha, not at home, eh! Gone up to the Hill, of course,” her thoughts went on, as the young man turned from the door and hastily made his way to the street again. ‘“ And there he goes after her! I verily believe the minx steals off to that hill just to entice him. Well, well, Mademoiselle Louise, we'll be even yet! It’s a long lane that has no turning.” Madame’s eyes dropped abstractedly to the floor as her offending nephew vanished around the corner. Minute after minute she sat there, an expression on her face never found on that of a good woman. At length she arose with a satisfied smile, and, despite her sixty odd years, quickly ascended the stairs to a back chamber whose windows over- looked a fine expanse of country. , “Yes, yes, well enough to see what they are about up there,” she muttered, taking a small spy-glass from the closet and adjusting it with a vicious jerk. ‘ Humph, just got there! shaking down the scarlet - maple leaves to announce himself. Well, she does look pretty, certainly, under the purple sunset glow and that flame-like shower. But riches should mate with riches, and she’s as poor as a church mouse.” Long and patiently madame watched the two, and when they finally left the shadow of the old maple she put away the glass with a few quick nods that betokened no good to Louise Deville. A little later she was making a careful tour of her beautiful front grounds. In due time her patience was rewarded. ‘The two for whom she watched came slowly down the street. The suave old lady courteously greeting Mademoiselle Deville was quite another woman from the patient spy of the previous hour. _ “JT pray you to come in, my dear,” she cried, throwing open the gate and kissing Louise on both cheeks. ‘‘ While Maurice goes to the post- office for me I will show you how defiant my summer flowers have been of the great winds.” Maurice looked surprised. : “How is it that Joseph did not go?” he asked. “Is he ill?” “No; but he seemed so tired that I forbade his stirring, knowing that I could send you.” COMICooOoKS ) (C(O) mM 2)