The Argosy — page 255: what you’re looking at

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

238 Maison Malounte. ‘ Fugénie, what is it?” “ Nothing,” I murmured. He bent to hear my trembling answer. “ Nothing that I can do?” ‘ Nothing that I can undo,” I replied. Lower and lower he bent, and nearer and nearer, in dangerous proximity, had it not been for Berthe. Her shadow was between us. ‘Tenderly taking my cold hands in his, he stroked them gently. Sud- denly he gave a start. ‘‘Where is it?” and he passed his fingers lightly over mine. “Tt?” I inquired. “Your ring. You should wear it always, or a fellow may be tempted to forget himself.” ‘And you,” I replied; “you, too, should wear a ring. French husbands often do, and you should do in Rome as the Romans do.” ‘But I am only half French,” he laughed, “and I might marry an English girl ; then I need not wear a ring.” ‘“‘Berthe de Pontac 1s very French,” I returned. “Mdlle. de Pontac! Eugénie, I am too proud to marry a woman with money.” ‘And too poor to marry one without,” I sadly retorted. The words slipped out, and before I could cough them down I was in his arms and smothered with kisses. Ere I could realise my happiness a discreet cough sounded from the path, and we started apart to see Perrine slowly advancing. : ‘¢ How touching of her to warn us,” said Horace. ‘“ A fellow feel- ing makes us wondrous kind; she’s setting her cap at Pierre.” ‘“ Her cap!” I laughed merrily; ‘‘and such a cap!” Monsieur was wanted to escort Mdlle. Berthe, and Madame wanted Mademoiselle. I could not see Bonne-maman. I trembled guiltily at the thought. With a whispered “ Till to-morrow,” we parted—Horace to convoy Mdlle. Berthe to her lordly chateau, I through the kitchen to my bower. I hastily undressed and sought my couch. Half an hour later, when Bonne-maman softly entered on tip-toe, 1 pretended to be asleep. Even then I feared she must read my secret on my face. She turned away with a little sigh, and I felt a terriblehumbug. My intense happiness frightened me, and in vain I tried to sleep. At last, towards morning, I fell into a doze, from which I awoke with a feeling of coming evil. V. THE feeling was verified. The next morning Bonne-maman was too ill to rise. I sat near her, and after a while she murmured in a feeble voice, ‘‘ Eugénie, my child, I should like you to stay with me ; always, if your uncle will not object. When Horace is married (COUN () JOOKSECO m