The Argosy — page 118: what you’re looking at

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

Mrs. Raven's Temptation. 103 not strike her she was doing a dishonourable thing. She was sinning on the line that she had sinned through her whole life ; and never, until that vein of sinfulness is nearing its end, do we detect its darkness: So little was she accustomed to regard her actions in relation to any- body but herself, that she did not even see the significance of Mr. Creed’s words, as he took a chair opposite the Agates. ‘IT must ask you to remember,” he began, speaking to Miss Agate, ‘that I am bound to report every word you say to my client. I mean that I wish you to understand that no statement you make to me can be regarded as in any way confidential.” ‘IT comprehend,” answered Gertrude Agate in her bell-like tones. ““T am afraid we have only too little statement to make. I believe Mr. Connell has already told you the few and simple details of the finding of my adopted niece, this young lady, on my door-step, with the record pinned to her clothes: ‘Born the 4th of September, “He has done so,” said Mr. Creed, with a polite bow and a glance in the direction of the young lady. “Still there remain a few questions which have occurred to me. And you must pardon me if these relate somewhat to your own family history. Your name,” added the lawyer, ‘‘ recalled to my mind the sad story of the little stolen babe who more than twenty years ago was taken from the very house whence you dated your note to me. I presume, therefore, that baby boy was some relation of yours.” ‘‘He is my nephew,” said Gertrude Agate, quickly. In ker mind she had always kept that child in the present tense. ‘Naturally the story of the child which you lost, and of the child which you found, connect themselves in one’s mind,” ‘‘ Certainly,” Gertrude Agate answered frankly, ‘‘I can never sepa- rate the two. I absolutely hope they are connected. It gives a double chance to the solution of the mystery.” As the lawyer turned over his papers he glanced again at the young lady, who, in spite of her elaborate braids and her aristocratic tournure, did not impress him nearly so much either with breed or possible beauty as did her little eager-eyed, dark-haired friend. ‘Well, madam, I must ask—pardon me for it—whether your brother, the lost child’s father, is still living ?” inquired Mr. Creed. ‘ Yes,” answered Gertrude Agate, with a checked sigh. ‘‘T remember all the circumstances of the case,” spoke the lawyer, quite sympathetically. ‘‘Everybody’s pity went with him. May I inquire whether he is still in confinement ? ” ‘‘He is at home with me,” she answered with a sad simplicity. ‘But he lives quite shut up,” put in the younger lady, Evelyn Agate. ‘He has never even seen me.” ‘“ May I also ask what was the maiden name of the poor lady, his wife?” continued Mr. Creed. “Marian Snow,” shortly replied Miss Agate. ‘An orphan. Ah, cConniclooolks (SO)