The Argosy — page 285: what you’re looking at

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

264 Mrs. Raven’s Temptation. wish was everybody’s law now, especially as he had shown much nervous irritation during the last week, consequent on the doctor’s refusing to permit him to go through the estate accounts for the close of the year, and to see his tenants as usual. Mrs. Raven and Frank were bending over the same sheet, trying to read some picture riddles. Evelyn was idly gazing at a large brilliant chromo, and Leonard lay back exhausted with the exertion of turning over big pages, and giving forth adverse criticisms. Sud- denly, he sprang up with a cry—an awful cry! The others were on their feet in a twinkling, and rushed to him. He tried to put them away—struggling fiercely for utterance, which, after that one shriek, seemed denied him. Huis right arm was ex- tended to its full length, the forefinger pointing at the window, as if he saw something; while, with his left, he grasped his mother’s shoulder with a grip which she felt for hours afterwards. She knew at once that the terrible fit was on him again in its very worst form. Then a cloud gathered swiftly in his eyes, and had not all their arms been ‘about him, he would have fallen heavily to the ground: and they knew that the curative work of months was undone. Nurse Hannah and the servants came on the scene. “He seemed to see something again,” moaned Mrs. Raven. ‘‘ He pointed—so ! See: the curtains are not closely drawn.” They bore him away to his chamber. Evelyn went with Mrs. Raven to its door. ‘I cannot go in,” said the girl, with a strong shiver ; ‘‘ this shock has defeated my struggle to keep up.” Certainly her face was deathly pale, and the hand she laid on Mrs. Raven’s trembled terribly. . ‘‘Poor dear,” said the lady, wearily, ‘‘you must not be ill, too.” She was wondering within herself why she too did not break down. Some people seem so hard to kill! She did not even remember then that the suffering which is slowest in manifestation is often surest in result. “Let the young lady go away and take care of herself,” said the nurse, in a quiet, kind tone. ‘‘She cannot help us here. Indeed, there will be little for any of us to do to-night.” So Evelyn went away. And the nurse busied herself in composing the unconscious sufferer in his couch, Sims and Janet Mackay assisting her. When all was as calm and bright as possible, she called the mother and brother into the room. ‘He is not likely to waken for hours,” she whispered; “‘ but if he does it will be only fora moment, and it might be better that he should see you than me. I will go and see after one or two little matters that ought to be in readiness, and I may take a turn on the terrace to make me fresh and wakeful for the night. <A call will summon me in a moment.” She glided away. But she went first in the direction of Evelyn’s room, and laid her hand very softly on the door handle. ‘The door EOPMICLOIOO KS, (EO)