The Argosy — page 182: what you’re looking at

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

Mrs. Raven's Temptation. 165 came home, I used to wonder if my philosophic, simple-minded brother had been so led away by the luxury in which he had lived there, as to become discontented with our plain ways at home. I felt terribly disappointed in him.” “It may have been so—that he was.” “Ah, no. ‘Theodore’s nature was above that. Afterwards, when it fell to my lot to go through his private diaries and papers, I dis- covered that at that period he had suffered losses and crosses, such as often darken or jar the finest minds. And he had in that mansion met with But I cannot go on: I have no right to,” she broke off with a shiver. None of her hearers spoke. ‘“‘ After a short time he married,” she resumed, evidently in pain. ‘‘ And Marian’s baby was born, and stolen away; stolen, 1 am quite certain, by the nurse she had hired. And then Theodore went mad. And Marian died of terror and woe. And since they let Theodore out of the asylum where they put him, he has lived shut in that. back room and that strip of green garden.” What a history it was! ‘Theodore speaks of Marian sometimes,” Miss Agate went on, in a low, awed voice. ‘‘ He speaks of her as we speak of the dead. with whom we have had sweet, happy days. But he has never men- tioned the baby, or the manner of Marian’s death. Of course, he knows he has been in a lunatic asylum, for he was a sane man before he left it And I sometimes think that if any horror of the past flits across his mind, he may attribute it to a memory of his own delirious ravings. He never speaks of the time of his madness. And then, you know,” she added, ‘‘a year after the time my little nephew was lost, my Evelyn was found.” “You need not go into that, Aunt Gertrude,” said Evelyn, quite touchily. ‘‘I am sure you have explained all about it to Mr. Connell over and over again, asking his advice and that, as to how my rela- tives might be discovered. And it cannot interest Mr. Frank Raven,” she added, with a little toss of her head. Nothing about Evelyn Agate interested Frank, and so he did not contradict, which probably annoyed her. “Yours has been a hard life, Miss Sat, ” said Philip thoughtfully. ‘Possibly so,” she replied. “‘ And entirely self-sacrificing.” “Not entirely. No.” “Oh, but it has. It has kept you single. But for all the burden you have had to carry I am sure you would have married.” Miss Agate shook her head witha grave smile. ‘Many people do not marry,” she said. ‘ And certainly, with my poor brother to keep and to care for, my duty was clear.” ‘Especially clear, as it only cost the entire sacrifice of yourself,” repeated Philip drily. Conniclooolks (S(O)