The Argosy — page 331: what you’re looking at

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

312 Lady Arabella. punishment for all her silly conduct—she would have applied « a harsher name now. “Perhaps, if you knew who I am, you would not have helped me,” she began, ina timid tone. ‘I am Lady Arabella Grahame.” - “Of course; I know it!” he exclaimed. ‘Of all human beings who could have aided you, I am most thankful that it was I.” The conquered girl sank back in her seat, and burst into a fit of weeping, as tumultuous as if she had been sixteen. ‘‘J—I can’t bear it,” she gasped. And she was so near a fit of hysterics that she could neither speak nor hear; could do nothing but sob, and choke. When the faculty of hearing returned she concluded that she had gone stark, staring mad. Her senses refused to give credence to the words the Marquis poured out. He seemed to be in the middle of a speech, and evidently supposed she had heard what went before. ‘You will drive me from you, I know,” he said, in perfect English, ‘but at least it is a comfort to say 1t—I love you!—I love you! Ican- not tell you, Lady Arabella, when my love began. I think, now, in the early days of my unmanly pursuit. But since then I have followed because to breathe the same air with you, catch sight of YORE face, - was heaven itself—the only happiness I could ever hope for.” Arabella Grahame checked her sobs, held her reeling senses S fast, sat upright, and stared at him. ‘‘ You—you are punishing me too severely,” she said. “ Be generous ; content yourself with having saved my life. Don’t laugh at me.” ‘‘Can you think it?” he cried. “I love you, I say—I love you! I know I am wrong to persecute you now; but try to think kindly of me, Lady Arabella; try to tolerate me.’ Like a handsome hero in the by-gone days of chivalry, he sank on his knees and told his story. And she? She listened, entranced, while the nightingale sang a soft refrain to his words, and the Italian moon rose suddenly from behind the hills, and floated in glory up the sky. _ “Speak tome!” he pleaded. “ Tell me that I do not seem to you like a complete stranger! Let me hope, ‘at least, to be ranked among your friends—I will ask no more as yet. I will be patient as man never was ; live on a look-—a smile——” The Marquis stopped abruptly. Some incoherent exclamation she uttered made him lift his eyes to hers. He read the consciousness which had suddenly dawned upon herown soul. During these months in which he had played so important a part in her life she had learned to love him! In an instant the truth became so familiar that she could hardly believe she had never known it before. And the explanation came. It was some time before they remembered the proprieties of life. Gomicdoo By i a ee eee eee SS (E(0) m