The Argosy — page 79: what you’re looking at

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

60 CHECKMATE IN TEN MOVES. By ANNA H. Drury, AUTHOR OF ‘‘ GABRIEL’S APPOINTMENT.” i l HAVE played the game myself, and proved the problem, when a heavy stake depended on its issue—no less a stake than the life of a man. Not by any means an easy task, let me tell you. It haunted me for months afterwards; and I have never cared to touch a chess- board since. When the war first broke out between France and Germany, I was boarding at an English school for young ladies in Prussia, to perfect myself myself in the language. The expectation in England of an invasion of the German territory by Napoleon III., led to the rapid dispersion of the pupils; and I was hesitating about my own wisest plan, when I received a letter that decided me at once. It was from a very dear English friend, the widow of a French savant, at whose pensionnat I had spent nearly a year, before my stay in my present quarters. She lived ina town that I shall only mention by the name of Trois Etoiles—and her house and garden being her sole inheritance, she utilised them by keeping a school, which in a quiet, straightforward fashion, flourished; as it deserved to do. Eleanor’s pupils adored her, and rebelled when it was time to take their leave. English and French, however they might differ on every other point, united in devotion to Madame; and no one within her walls showed it more heartily than I. We had been intimate friends in my childhood, and one of my first sorrows was the marriage which made France her home. When other and heavier griefs fell to my lot, and my own home existed no longer, it was no slight consolation to find that I might be preparing for independence under her roof. I studied French and German at Trois Etoiles, with such success as to entertain the hope of becoming permanently useful. A small remuneration would have satishied me, if combined with the rest and solace of Eleanor’s society ; but to this there was one trying obstacle—the jealousy of her sister-in-law, Mariette. Left when quite a child to her brother’s care, this little enemy ot mine had learned to regard his wife’s love and confidence as her own peculiar right; and being one of those eager natures that seem to live in their affections, she very soon resented my claim as an older friend; and led us the sort of life that a lively, spoiled, pretty girl can lead those who are older than herself ; compelling us, for the sake CORNICE OOOKS.C©