The Argosy — page 246: what you’re looking at

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

Mrs. Montagu’s Governess. 229 Mr. North, the only European within reach, had been called to the bedside, and, to ease the mind of the dying stranger, had undertaken the charge of seeking out his wife and imparting the intelligence of her loss. At length North was about to discharge the melancholy trust, and for all he knew the news might call forth the bitterest regret and anguish. Mr. North went straight to the Post Office, as the most likely place in which to discover the address of Mrs. Milman. It was at the same time an emporium for the sale of drapery, and the whole force of the mercantile establishment, as well as the entire body of Her Majesty’s officials, drew near to listen to Mr. North’s inquiries. No such person as Mrs. Milman was known. ‘She was a Miss Wilson,” explained North, by way of assisting the memories of these Rushford people. “Oh! Miss Wilson! She left here years ago; went away when her mother died.” “Do you know of anyone who was intimate with her, who could give me her present address ?” A great shaking of heads attested the general 1 ignorance. Swmie ie strange,” muttered North; ‘‘very strange.” But the matter had altogether very little interest for him ; so, giving up the quest, he took the next train back to town, where he put into the hands of a private inquiry office the business of discovering the lady who had so mysteriously disappeared. The task was a very small one for those accomplished gentlemen. Upon the morning of the fourth day, as North sat at breakfast in the coffee-room of his hotel, a note was given him containing all neces- sary particulars. ‘The missing person had been traced, her past employment and history learnt; and her present address was fur- nished for Mr. North’s further purposes in accordance with his request. The effect of this letter upon North was remarkable: he sprang up from his chair; first, the colour rushed into his face, then as suddenly retreated, leaving his countenance pale and set; and the letter almost dropped from his nerveless fingers, while his eyes fixed themselves upon vacancy. It was fortunate that he happened to be alone in the room. At last, calling for his bill, North made some pretext of completing his breakfast ; but his appetite was gone with his tranquillity, and five minutes later he rose and quitted the hotel. At three o’clock upon that same afternoon he was walking up the avenue to his sister’s house at Freshfield, trying to resolve a difficulty which had just presented itself to his mind—that of accounting to his family for his sudden appearance again in their circle. This was a gordian knot which he utterly failed to undo, but which was cut for him in one moment by the servant who opened the door. “ Master and mistress have gone from home, sir; they will not be GoOmiiGdooks () (C(O)