The Argosy — page 111: what you’re looking at

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

90 Mrs. Raven’s Temptation. Alice shook her head. ‘‘Thoughts will come, you know,” she said. ‘ You see, there 1s at once a mystery to begin with: where do thoughts come from? One cannot help having thoughts: and some- times we have some which we would rather be without.” ‘But won’t you tell me the thoughts you have about this matter ?” ‘My fancies are of no value. If I had convictions, that would be different. You should be welcome to them.” “Thank you heartily for that,” answered Frank. ‘‘ You can’t think how lonely I am—perhaps you can, though—perhaps that’s why I don’t mind owning it to you. I’m simply feeling about in the dark, without hand to lead me or friend to guide me; and there may be something in the path, ugly and evil, for me to stumble over. You don’t know how a hint from you might help me. I have things to contend with that you know nothing of.” Tears filled Alice’s eyes. ‘“‘Oh, Mr. Raven, I wish you would not speak like this! Indeed I should like to help you—but how can I? How can I do what you ask? It would not be right! {It seems to me it would be almost like beginning to try the prac- tices of this woman.” ‘‘T feel more and more that you have something in your mind which you could tell me if you would,” persisted Frank. ‘‘Can- not you feel it right to do so?” Alice was crying now—those quiet, patient tears which Frank remembered at their first interview. He felt that his perplexities might be making him selfish and harsh. ‘Forgive me,” he said, gently, ‘‘I did not mean to oppress you with my burdens. I do not ask you to do what you think wrong. You would not do it, I know, neither would I ask it.” ‘‘Tf a thing is right to be done,” sighed Alice, ‘‘ there must be a right way to do it. I should like to say something to you. This is nothing that I fancy,” she went on, ‘‘it 1s only that I should like to ask you always to remember that our true value lies in ourselves, and in what we make of life; and that we do risk our souls to gain the world when we turn aside from the path that we feel to be right and true, because it is not pleasant or easy. And oh, be very kind and pitiful,” she continued, as an after-thought, ‘‘for if we are injured, those who injure us have injured themselves more; rely upon that. And what- ever we have to let go, we need never be without God and something to do for Him.” ‘Thank you,” said Frank. ‘‘ You have found the right way to do the right thing.” He did not exactly own it to himself then, but from that moment he felt the witch’s story might be true: and also, that even so, it was bearable. He held out his hand, keeping the mysterious packet in the other. “Tell me that I need never be without one friend,” he said, pleadingly, ECOPMIC LOOKS, (E00)