The Argosy — page 58: what you’re looking at

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

Stephante. 45 ““Mr.Dart !” she said. ‘ Mr. Dart, do you hear me?” She was tremulous with cold, but she managed to speak in a clear voice, and its sound brought him back to,.the world. He groaned faintly, and when she redoubled her efforts to rouse him, he opened his eyes, and started at seeing in the dusk her shadowy figure and white face bending over him. ‘“‘Ts—is this death?” he exclaimed, fearfully. “You fainted,” she answered, trembling, “‘and I found you lying here. I don’t know how long it is since you fell. Oh, Mr. Dart, how glad I am to hear you speak!” He tried to raise himself, but fell back upon her arm, and lay there for a minute, before he could utter a word. ‘““ Don’t try to get up, yet,” she said. ‘‘I can hold you, if you only will not faint again.” “T cannot see you, plainly,” he answered, at length; “ but I think I know your voice. Itis Miss Bright, is it not?” “Yes,” she replied, crying a little, though she could not have told why. ‘‘Steenie, you know.” This was all they said to. each other, until he felt himself strong enough to rise: and even then, Steenie, helping him to his feet, and seeing how weak he was, almost feared he would fall again. ‘You must lean on my shoulder,” she said... ‘‘ Don’t be afraid ot letting your weight rest on me. Iam stronger than I look.” ‘* But I cannot bear to try you this way,” broke out Kenneth, feeling terribly impatient at his own feebleness, and forgetting how sharp his ner- vous voice would sound. ‘ You had better leave me here, Miss Bright.” Steenie looked up at him with both surprise and pain in her face, but she recovered herself an instant later. She was used to the irritability of people who were weak and unstrung. ‘‘T am sure I can take you home, if you will let me,” she said. ‘ And I cannot leave you here, in the cold.” So, submitting to her influence, as people always did, he was baie to try once more, and exerted himself to the utmost, even thoughh e felt her trembling beneath his weight. He was not even able to make up to her for her perseverance when he reached his lodgings, for then the light and warmth so overpowered him that he fainted again, and it was all Steenie and his landlady could do to get him to the sofa. Steenie ~ was still near him when he recovered, and in his intense prostration he found a curious sense of comfort in the mere sight of her face. ‘Vou are very kind to me,” he said, weakly, but that was all he had strength to utter. She waited a little to see that he was really improving, and then she settled his cushions with a light, practised hand, before leaving him. ‘Vou must try to go to sleep after Mrs. Rhys has given you a cup of tea,’ she said. “ And now I will bid you good-night.” COnniiclooolxs (CO)