The Argosy — page 128: what you’re looking at

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

The Story of Dorothy Grape. II3 good, and did not worry ; Dolly did some plain sewing for her, and made her a gown or two. On one of these spring days, when the sun was shining brightly on the pavement outside, Dolly went out on an errand. She had not gone many steps from the door when a lady, very plainly dressed, came up and accosted her quietly. “Young woman, I wish to ask why you have stolen away my husband P” “Good gracious!” exclaimed the startled Dolly. ‘What do you mean P” “You call yourself Mrs. Mapping.” “Tam Mrs. Mapping.” The stranger shook her head. ‘‘We cannot converse here,” she said. ‘‘ Allow me to go up to your room”—pointing to it. “I know you lodge there.” “ But what is it that you want with me?” objected Dolly, who did not like all this. “You think yourself the wife of Alick Mapping. You think you were married to him.” Dolly wondered whether the speaker had escaped from that neigh- bouring stronghold, Bedlam. “I don’t know what it is you wish to insinuate,” she said. ‘‘I was married to Mr. Mapping at St. Martin’s Church in Worcester, more than eighteen months ago.” “Ay! But IJ, his wife, was married to him in London seven years ago. Yours was no marriage ; he deceived you.” Dolly’s face was turning all manner of colours. She felt frightened nearly to death. “Take me to your room and I will tell you all that you need to know. Do not fear I shall reproach you; I am only sorry for you; it has been no fault of yours. He is a finished deceiver, as I have learnt to my cost.” Dolly led the way. Seated together, face to face, her eyes strained on the stranger’s, she listened to the woful tale, which was gently told. That it was true she could not doubt. Alick Mapping had married her at St. Martin’s Church in Worcester, but he had married this young woman some years previous to it. “You are thinking that I look older than my husband,” said she, misinterpreting Dolly’s gaze. ‘That is true. I am five years older, and am now approaching my fortieth year. He pretended to fall in love with me; I thought he did; but what he really fell in love with was my money.” “How did you come to know about me ?—how did you find it out?” gasped Dolly. “Tt was through Mrs. Turk, your landlady,” answered the true wife. ‘She has been suspecting that something or other was wrong, and she talked of it to a friend of hers who chances to know my family. This friend was struck with the similarity of name—the VOL, XXXI. ! COMIC OOO SS (C(O) >»