The Argosy — page 327: what you’re looking at

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

306 Lhe Curé’s Sister. horseback ; and tying my horse to the park-gate I sauntered towards the fountain. ' It stood in a lonely and neglected part of the grounds, and as I drew near it, I saw Léonie standing there with the Count by her side. He stood hat i in hand, bending towards her, in an attitude of mock deference I thought. And once he stooped and would have touched her hand, but she drew back, shrinking against the fountain, and then he bowed to her with a vexed air and strode away. ~ fb did not intercept him, for he went towards the house, and I reached Léonie just as his figure disappeared between the trees. was not watching him, her eyes were bent towards the ground, and when she lifted them at my approach there was neither the joy nor fear of love in them. She ‘“Léonie, I am here; why do you wish to see me?” I said, kindly. “Oh, Monsieur ! ” she cried, clasping her hands, “comfort them when I am gone—console them when they see my face no more!” ‘“‘Léonie, are you mad? What are you going to do?” I ex- claimed. ‘“‘T am going to leave them for ever,” she answered. 2) consented to do this —-— “T am asked to desert my home, my mother, and—and Gabriel, and I have almost “Then you do a wicked and ungrateful thing,” I cried, “and one that will plunge you into sin and death. Pause, child, before ae forsake your duty thus.” My duty!” and her bent head fell upon her hands; duty—my terrible duty to do this—there is no hope for me—no escape. I must do this, or go into perdition, body and soul.” Her agony shook her whole frame, and I dared not speak for a moment till she was calmer. “ It. is my. “Léonie, you are mistaken; it cannot be your duty to destroy yourself, to fling yourself into eternal shame and misery for a sinful love.” My words seemed to pierce her very heart, for after one quick look of I think she prayed, for starting suddenly to her feet, she pointed upwards. ‘‘God, who has opened this way for me to escape, will not permit me to do that,” she said. ‘‘Do not plead with me for my own soul,” she added, wildly. ‘‘ Speak of his: tell me that I have no right to drag him into the ways of perdition. Oh, sir, the sin of my dismay and anguish, she hid her face from my sight. heart is killing me ?” The sudden way in which she flung her outstretched hands towards me, the wild agony in her eyes, showed me how terrible in its strength was her passion for this man. ‘“Léonie,” I said, softly, ‘calm yourself. The sinner who ews his sin is half saved already. Cease to meet the object of your love ; flee from the man who agitates your heart thus, and earn his gratitude, his blessing for the sacrifice you make. You are right to think of his (E) mM G 0)(0Y0) cS) (E()