The Argosy — page 119: what you’re looking at

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

104 Mrs. Raven’s Temptation. she was a sweet girl when my brother married her : good, gentle, lady- like, accomplished. I never thought he loved her half enough, and yet he loved her very truly, and was a good and tender husband— till the terrible end came.” ‘‘T find the monthly nurse was suspected of the baby’s abduction,” © Mr. Creed went on. ‘‘ You see, Miss Agate, I have been refreshing my memcry with the details from an ancient newspaper. Do you re- member anything about this woman ? —But you must have been very young at that time.” ‘‘T was sixteen,” replied Gertrude Agate; “‘I am eight-and-thirty now. I remember her perfectly. I am always quite sure it was she who took away the baby—only three hours after his birth. Every trace of her also vanished. My poor sister-in-law had hired her acci- dentally, and we could never find out where she had lived. I am certain I should know her if Isaw her. I kept her image in my eyes and in my mind from that day, and have watched for her in the streets. She was a tall woman, with black eyes, and when she spoke she made long pauses between the sentences. I did not like her from the first, and her manner to me was rude and strange.” ‘What was the baby like?” asked Mr. Creed. Gertrude Agate shook her head. ‘‘He seemed to have brown eyes,” she said; ‘‘but you cannot tell at that early age, and they may have turned out blue later. He was a bonnie bairn, and I would give all I have to find him now.” ‘Well, it was very kind of you to take in the foundling girl in his stead, and I’m sure she has done you credit,” said Mr. Creed, inwardly adding, ‘‘ Heaven forgive me for telling a fib.” ‘Yes, it was very kind,” interrupted Evelyn Agate; ‘‘ but I may have lost something by the exchange, and that boy has got it! Perhaps something that a girl could not inherit? And that’s such a shame, for women want money more than men! He could have been a doctor—or a lawyer—or anything. But I can be only . “Only what ?” asked Mr. Creed, as she hesitated. ‘“A lady’s companion. It is what we have thought of—what I should like well enough.” ‘‘And I’m sure you ought to find that position delightful.” “Oh, I don’t know,” returned the young lady, whom Mr. Creed mentally recorded as ‘‘the young person.” ‘I want to see a some- what different life, and I am looking out for an appointment: and I could not help hoping this might lead to some disclosure about me— and give her dear nephew back to Aunt Gertrude.” “Well,” said Mr. Creed, rising, “I will write you a line, madam, as soon as I have seen my client. All that you have told me conveys nothing to me personally, but it shall be reported. Good morning.” He hastened to Mrs. Raven. Her face was deadly white, and she had bitten her under-lip until it had turned a bright vermilion: and she had put on her gloves as if quite ready to depart. CORMIELICO KS. (EC)