The Argosy — page 99: what you’re looking at

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

86 Court Netherleigh. came out against you, Madame Adela, as your father says; they were carried to Charles Cleveland, and he could but admit the truth.” ‘‘ Why did you do this terrible thing P—That my daughter, whom I have so loved, should be capable of sullying herself with such dis- grace!” broke off Lord Acorn, with a wail. In good truth, it had been a blow to him, and one he had never bargained for. ‘To playa little at Lady Sanely’s for amusement, was one thing; he had, so to say, winked at that; but to gamble and to steal money to pay her gambling debts, was quite another. ‘Adela, I could almost wish I had died before hearing of it.” Adela burst into tears. ‘I wanted the money so badly,” she sobbed, hiding her face with her trembling hands. great deal—to people at Lady Sanely’s. I was at my wits’ end, and Mr. Grubb would not give me any more. Oh, papa, forgive me! Can’t it be hushed up ?” “Did you help yourself to more than that P” asked Lord Acorn. ‘IT do not understand,” she faltered, not catching his meaning. ‘“‘ Have you drawn or used any other false cheque ?” “Oh, no, no; only that. Papa, zwon’t you forgive me?” He shook his head. No, he felt that he could not. ‘“* My for- giveness may not be of vital consequence to you, one way or the other, Adela,” he remarked with a groan, that he drowned by cough- ing. ‘‘ The termination of this affair does not lie with me.’ “Tt les with my husband,” she said, ina low tone. ‘‘ He will hush it ip “Tt does not lie with him, Adela,” sternly spoke Lord Acorn. ‘Had it been one of his private cheques, had you used his name only, it might ina great degree have rested with him—unless the bankers had taken it up.” ‘But you borrowed old Mr. Howard’s name as well,” struck in Lady Acorn; “‘and, if he pleases to be stern and obstinate, he can just place you where Charles Cleveland is, and you would have to stand your trial in the face and eyes of the world. A pretty disgrace for us all! A frightful calamity.” Adela looked from one to the other, her face changing pitiably ; now white as snow with fear, now hectic with emotion and shame. ‘Mr. Grubb has full power in Leadenhall Street,” she pleaded. ‘ He will take care to shield me.” ‘Are you sure of that?” quietly asked her father. ‘‘ Has your conduct to him been such—I don’t allude to this one pitiable in- stance, I speak of your treatment of him generally—has it been such that you can assume he will inevitably go out of his way to shield you, right or wrong? ” In spite of the miserable shame that filled her, a passing flush of triumph crossed her face. Ay! and her heart. What though she Aad persistently done her best to estrange her husband, with her provoking ways and her scornful contumely, very conscious felt she that she was all COMICLIOO KS,