The Argosy — page 335: what you’re looking at

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

318 In the Mist. foresee. I was beginning to get accustomed to my position, and to feel thankful for my merciful escape, when I heard a curious sound in the cliff above me—a cracking, rending noise. A quantity of loose stones and gravel came rushing down before the opening, half blinding me, and almost at the same moment I found myself in total darkness. A mass of rock and earth falling from the upper part of the cliff had blocked up the entrance, making me a prisoner. At first I hardly realised what had happened, but when I found that I was actually walled up in the cliff a dreadful fear seized me. Still I did not yet despair. I resolved to make my way along the passage, hoping to find another outlet in the tower. It was a steep incline, with rough steps at intervals, and it brought me, as I expected, to a vault. But, to my horror, I could find no outlet of any sort. I groped round the damp stone walls again and again before I could believe it, then sank down, as if stunned. I pictured you all seeking for me in vain; poor grandpapa’s grief—Noel’s despair. I thought what my fate would be, dying of slow starvation in the dreadful darkness of that living tomb.” She broke off, shuddering ; then, after a moment’s pause, went on again. “The time dragged by till, from sheer exhaustion, I fellinto a deep dreamless sleep, which must have lasted many hours. At length I woke with a start, thrilling in every nerve with a strange conviction that Noel was somewhere near me. _ I sat up, stretching out my arms in the darkness, calling to him, imploring him to come to me. When at last he replied, the sudden joy and relief overcame me, and I fainted.” ‘‘Never while I live shall I forget what I felt when I heard your voice,” said Noel, in a low tone of deep emotion. ‘“‘ And yet it was scarcely surprise. I, too, had the same instinctive conviction that you were near me. My spirit was conscious of yours ——” They clasped hands and were silent a moment ; a silence I would not interrupt, for I saw they were blissfully oblivious of my presence. ‘¢ Noel,” Winnifred whispered after a pause, in a tone half playful, half serious, and wholly tender; ‘‘ when you offer me the ring again I shall not refuse it. I think you believe now that I love you—a little ?” : ‘‘T was mad ever to doubt it, as Mr. Glynn told me. But you need not fear, Winnie,” he added with a smile, ‘‘the ‘ green-eyed monster’ will never come between us again. I have learnt a lesson in self-control that I shall remember all my life.” “Thus, out of evil comes good,” I put in sententiously. ‘ But listen ; I hear footsteps outside.” There was a moment’s pause—a sound of whispering voices, then the heavy door suddenly swung open, and Walter Borlace appeared on the threshold, followed by the old shipowner and two men, whom I recognised as police-constables. COMMIEMOOO KS OLn)