The Argosy — page 244: what you’re looking at

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

Mrs. Montagw’s Governess. 227 The suspense was becoming intolerable to Marion, and at last she rose to end the interview. But her movement aroused North, who had hitherto remained, his head supported on his arm, motionless against the mantelpiece. She had looked for some harsh speech, words of contempt, hatred; but the face that he now turned towards her was a severer punishment than any reproach his lips could have uttered. She gazed at him in stricken amazement; it seemed as though years of suffering must have passed over his head to have altered his features so greatly. “Why did I never know this before ?” asked he huskily. “ Why have you kept it secret ?” ‘¢ Mine is a very unhappy story,” answered Marion with quivering lips. ‘‘When I was very young I made a most unfortunate marriage ; my husband proved utterly unkind, unworthy ; and after a very few months I left him. Wishing to put it out of his power to trace me, I took my second name, that of Lockhart. JI have never seen or heard of him since.” ‘Ts my sister aware of these circumstances ?” ‘She knows nothing,” answered Marion, a streak of crimson flashing across the pallor of her cheek. ‘‘Sometimes, while Mrs. Montagu has treated me with such confidence and kindness, I have felt myself a kind of impostor. But oftener I forget—perhaps you can hardly believe it—but I forget.that I have any other name than that of Lockhart. I have been very happy here,” she added with a sigh. “ Poor child!” breathed Mr. North, softly. ‘Shall you inform Mrs. Montagu of this? Will it be nght to do so?” asked Marion a little anxiously, after a pause of silence and of painful reflection on the part of both. ‘What sort of a man do you take me to be? No, your secret is safe, so far as | am concerned.” ‘Have I done very wrong?” inquired Marion again after a brief hesitation. ‘“We are not able to be judges one of another,” answered North, a certain gentleness tempering the gravity of his manner and words. ‘But you have done harm. Do you not see, child, that your putting yourself in a false position works evil by putting men like myself in a false position also?” ‘Will you forgive me?” she asked, timidly. ‘And will you not forget me ?” , ‘“‘T forgive you; forget you I never can. It must be my lot to love you while life lasts.” Oh, hush! I am too greatly punished. But it is not true; happiness may yet be in store for you —-— ” “Stay !” cried North, interrupting her sternly ; “say nothing of that kind. I never breathed the word love to any woman before, and I never shall again. I loved you and must continue now to love you to the end.” COMmicooolks () (S(O)