The Argosy — page 96: what you’re looking at

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

meee AK.G.O.S Y. FEBRUARY, 188}. Pen Pr RE D' POOw ER. Peeaoe. t.n R OLY. MARTHA’S SHAME, HEN John Hatherley rode into the town, the morning after his father’s death, he was the object of general and respectful sympathy. Two such events as Martha Freake’s arrest and Mr. Hatherley’s death, following immediately one upon the other, had not happened in Marleyford for a long time. ‘The little town really felt as if it had .pressure on the brain. _How Martha was looking, what doing, saying, thinking behind her prison walls—how the Hatherleys were behaving inside their darkened house: such were the two subjects full of delightful mystery. John, in his new character of master and chief mourner, became most interesting ; and wherever he stopped on his way to the magistrates’ room, words of condolence greeted him. Fresh excitement was presently caused by the rumble of a stately vehicle up the High Street, and its instant recognition as the Hatherley Carriage, as it drew up at the court. Who was inside it ? Could it be Miss Hatherley ? Then followed a thrill of commotion as its occupant was recognised for Martha Freake. John, looking sad but admir- able, hurried forward to help his cousin out, and while the bystanders are struck dumb at his goodness, Martha, thickly veiled and visibly trembling, shuffles along and disappears. When John looked at her, even he was shocked at the sale which twenty-four hours had made. Not so much agitated, humiliated, bewildered was she, as simply scared out of all possibility of thought. She mechanically did as she was told; sat down in the chair pointed out to her; answered all the questions addressed to her; but not frankly and fearlessly as the consciousness of her innocence should have made her so do. Rather did she seem held back from replying by some unseen terror. And it would have been touching to mark, VOL. XXXV, G CORNICLOOL SS (CO) mn