The Argosy — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

fees PROG O'S ky. FULY, 1882. MRS. RAVEN’S TEMPTATION. erarrT ER xa Tit. PERPLEXITY. i Reaere cry of distress, sharp and piercing, resounding at midnight through the peaceable house of the Reverend Mr. Connell, startled its inmates to terror. Ina munute all was confusion. There were sounds of shoeless feet running hurriedly across bed-rooms, of doors opening, of vague questions, addressed apparently to the air. Mrs. Connell, being up and dressed, came forth from Miss Cleare’s room at once. Alice followed her, pale and uncertain. The minister, hardly awake yet and very much alarmed, was coming out of his chamber, settling himself into his old grey dressing-gown. Evelyn Agate appeared in a white wrapper. Mrs. Raven came behind with a white face. The two maid-servants stood on the attic stairs, quaking and quivering. ‘Where is Mrs. Connell?” called out the minister, in alarm. «¢ What cry is that?” ““T am here, James,” she answered. ‘I have been sitting all the while with Miss Cleare, never thinking how late it was. Who was it that shrieked? What is the matter? What did they see?” “See!” cried Mr. Connell, thinking the word a curious one to, use. ‘‘Is everybody here?” ‘‘Where is Louisa?” exclaimed the mother, missing her daughter and hastily moving towards the door of her chamber. But Louisa’s voice was instantly heard in reply. ‘‘I am coming out as fast as J can, mamma. What is the matter P” A similar question, with divers sounds of hasty movements, and somewhat stormy exclamations, came from the little room, which, in the crowded state of the house, Philip and Percy were occupying together. In almost less than a moment, they were on the scene. And then Frank appeared, looking not fully awake yet. “Who screamed? Who shrieked ?” were the words in everybody’s mouth. Questions easier asked than answered. VOL, XXXIV. B ! ECOMICOOOKS.cO©