The Argosy — page 243: what you’re looking at

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

220 Mrs. Montagw’s Governess. then North raised his eyes to see who the intruder upon his sad soli tude might be. Immediately a great change came over his countenance, and a smile sprang to his lips. His visitor was his own fair beloved, looking lovelier even than her wont as she advanced with a slight flush of crimson upon each cheek, and her slender fingers interlacing themselves in palpable embarrass- ment. Observing her expression and hesitation, Mr. North came'toa happy conclusion in his own mind, and going forward took her tenderly by the hand. She made no resistance; but, whatever the saying she had come to deliver, it did not seem easy of utterance,’ for although her lips parted once or twice, no sound came from them. ‘You mistook your own feelings this morning,” cried North at — length in the face of her silence, his voice subdued, joy thrilling in every tone. ‘‘ You have come to tell me that you are going to bless me with some morsel of hope.” “T should hardly come to tell you that,” answered Marion, giving a faint smile under the sense of amusement that some trifle will often furnish in the midst of deep suffering. “T beg your pardon; I thought that perhaps of your goodness you wished to bestow a crumb of comfort upon me before I went away,” said North, with the meekness of great love. ‘No, it is nothing of that nature,” Miss Lockhart made reply, sinking into the chair that North placed for her.. ‘‘ But I have come | to inform you of a fact, because to do so is the only atonement I can make you. And I pray,” added she, momentarily lifting her sad eyes to heaven, ‘‘I pray that the confession may undo the conse- quences of my sin. I have nothing else left to hope and pray for.” ‘What have you to tell me?” demanded North, hoarsely. But the blow had virtually fallen. North already knew from her | countenance and her words, by some sure instinct he felt that Marion Lockhart’s mission, be it what it might, was of a nature to separate them wide as the east is from the west. ‘“T am married; that is what I came to say,” said Marion ; and as soon as she had spoken, she hid her face in her handkerchief without waiting to see the effect of the communication upon her lover. “What!” shouted he. ‘‘ What do you tell me?” ‘T am already married,” repeated Marion in a broken voice of infinite weariness and sadness. Talbot North grasped her by the shoulder; he almost shook her in his bewilderment. ‘Do you know what you are saying? You tell me that you are married ?” ‘Tt is the simple truth; I was married some years ago.” ‘Good heavens! all is indeed over,” groaned North. After that there was a pause. ‘The young man was wrestling with . the anguish of his wound in absolute stillness; while Marion only stirred at intervals to wipe the tears that were coursing down her cheeks. Gomichooks. co