The Argosy — page 129: what you’re looking at

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

II4 The Story of Dorothy Grape. Alick Mapping whose wife was here, and the Alick Mapping whose wife lived at Hackney.” ‘“‘ How long is it since he left you?” asked poor Dolly. “He has not left me. He has absented himself inexplicably at times for a year or two past, but he is still with me. He is at home now, at this present moment. I have a good home, you must un- ierstand, and a good income, which he cannot touch; he would think twice before giving up that. Had you money ?” continued the lady abruptly. ‘“‘J had three hundred pounds. He told me he had placed it in the Bank of England; I think he did do that; and that he should never draw upon it, but leave it there for a nest-egg.” Mrs. Mapping smiled in pity. ‘‘ You may rely upon it that there’s not a shilling left of it: money in his hands, when he can get hold of any, runs out of them like water.” ‘Ts it true that he travels for a wine house ?” “‘Yes—and no. It is his occupation, but he is continually throw- ing up his situations: pleasure has more attraction for him than work : and he will be a gentleman at large for months together. Yet nota more clever man of business exists than he is known to be, and he can get a place at any time.” ‘Have you any children?” whispered Dolly. “No. Shall you prosecute him ?” *¢ Shall _ I—what ?” cried Dolly, aghast. ‘*Prosecute him for the fraud he has committed on you ?” “Oh, dear! the exposure would kill me,” shivered the unhappy girl, ‘I shall only hope to run away and hide myself for ever.” ‘Every syllable I have told you is truth,” said the stranger, pro- ducing a slip of paper as she rose to depart. ‘‘ Here are two or three references by which you can verify it. Mrs. Turk will do it for you if you do not care to stirinit yourself. Will you shake hands with me ?” Dolly assented, and burst into a whirlwind of tears. Nothing seemed to be left for her, as she said, but to run away and hide herself. All the money was gone, and she was left penni- less and helpless. By the aid of Mrs. Turk, who proved a good friend to her, she got a situation in a small preparatory school near Croydon, as needle-woman and companion to the mistress. She called herself Mrs. Mapping still, and continued to wear her wedding ring; she did not know what else to do. She Aad been married, truly, as she had believed, and what had come of it was surely no fault of hers. A little good fortune fell to her in time; a little bit. For years she remained in that school at Croydon, until, as it seemed to her- self, she was middle-aged, and then the mistress of it died. Having no relatives, she left her savings and her furniture to Dolly. With the money Dolly set up the house in Gibraltar Terrace, put the fur- niture into it, and began to let lodgings. A young woman. who had EORMIELIOOKS (Ee)