The Argosy — page 54: what you’re looking at

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

Selina Radcliffe’s Home. 4I turning the paper to see what it said about the markets, when his father put down his pipe and began to speak. “Only a few days, he says, Ste!” ‘¢ What P” demanded Stephen in his surly and ungracious tones. ‘¢ She’s been ailing always; and has sat up there away from us, Ste. But we shall miss her.” “ Miss her!” retorted Ste, leaving the paper, and walking to the fire. ‘Why, what good has she been of? JAdiss her? The house’ll have a good riddance of her,” he added, under his breath. ‘“‘Tt’ll be my turn next, Ste. And not long first, either.” Stephen took a keen look at his father from beneath his over-hang- ing, bushy eyebrows, that were beginning to turn grey: All this sounded very odd. “When you and me and Becca’s left alone here by ourselves, we shall be as easy as can be,” he said. ‘What month is it, Ste?” *“¢ November.” ‘Ay. You'll have seen the last o’ me before Christmas.” ‘Think so?” was Stephen’s equable remark. The old man nodded ; and there came a pause. ‘And you and Becca ’ll be glad to get us out, Ste.” Stephen did not take the trouble to gainsay it. He was turning about in his thoughts something that he had a mind to speak of. ‘“They’ve been nothing but interlopers from the first—she and him, I expect you to do what’s right by me, father.” ‘¢ Ay, I shall do what’s right,” answered the old man. “About the money, I mean. It must a// come to me, father. I _ was heir to it before you ever set eyes on her; and her brat must not be let stand in my way. Do you hear?” ‘Ves, I hear. - It'll be all nght, Ste.” “Take only a fraction from the income, and how would the Torr be _ kept up?” pursued Stephen, plucking up his spirits at the last answer. ‘¢ He has got his fine profession, and he can make a living for himself out on’t: some o’ them councillors make their thousands a year. But he must not be let rob me.” | ‘He shan’t rob you, Ste. It will be all right.” And covetous Stephen, thus reassured and put at ease, strolled into the kitchen, and ordered Becca to provide his favourite dish, toasted cheese, for supper. The ‘‘few days” spoken of by Mr. Duffham, were slowly passing. There was not much difference to be observed in Selina; except that her voice went sinking down like a spent sky-rocket. She could only use it at intervals. But her face got a beautiful look of radiant peace upon it, just as though she were three parts in Heaven. I have heard Duffham say so many a time since; I, Johnny Ludlow. CoOnmmiclooolkKks (CO)