The Argosy — page 196: what you’re looking at

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

Winifred Power. 179 clue, if such it could be called, which the agitation at the name of Russell might have seemed to offer. That is, she did not describe Mademoiselle Marthe’s singularities to her uncle, or ask him if he had ever known anybody answering to such a description. The friendship, thus begun between the strangely-contrasted pair, was destined, on Winifred’s side, to be intensified later by gratitude. The previous summer to this when we first make her acquaintance, her uncle and aunt having gone to England, she joined several other artists at Fontainebleau. Mademoiselle Marthe was there also, although she could not be said to belong to the party. Presently small-pox broke out. Winifred fell ill. Fortunately her attack proved of the mildest ; but it sufficed to scare away all her companions save one. The exception was Mademoiselle Marthe, who suddenly proved herself of a rare efficiency. Feeling seemed to stand her in lieu of special intelligence ; where suffering of any sort had to be alleviated, she always knew the right thing todo. And Winifred, tended by her with a limitless devotion, came to feel the moral superiority that was veiled by her persistent reserve. Formerly she had merely pitied Mademoiselle Marthe; now she respected and loved her. And when she got well, she thought she never could do enough to mark and proclaim her gratitude. The sight of such friendship stirred to malice the small souls of her fellow students. During one of Winifred’s rare visits to the gallery, when they were all back in Paris again, Clara Smythe began another battle. “Tt isa pity you were not here yesterday, Miss Power. You might have heard ‘ something to your advantage,’ as the advertisements say.” ‘To my advantage?” Winifred repeated, in surprise. “Yes. That is, of course, if you consider it an advantage to be enlightened as to the true history of your friends.” There was a general little giggle at this, the rest of the girls being prepared for what was to come. ‘I must trouble you to explain yourself,” returned Winifred. ‘Among the many kind of failures which you consider interesting, do you include the failure to keep out of prison?” The colour rose in Winifred’s cheeks. ‘I am a bad hand at suessing riddles,” she said. “Yesterday, my aunt, who was passing through Paris, came with me here,” resumed the spiteful girl, ‘‘As we entered, your protégée, Mademoiselle Marthe, passed out. My aunt gave a great start of amazement on seeing her, for she recognised her as a person she had known once in England.” “Yes?” repeated Winifred, wondering what was coming. “And who was condemned to a term of imprisonment for writing threatening letters.” There was a dead pause, then Winifred said coldly, “I presume your aunt gave you some particulars as to names and dates and places ?” COMmicboo! SS) (C(O)