The Argosy — page 218: what you’re looking at

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

The Tenant of The Cedars. 201 stranger to enter it.” He paused, looking round reverently, as if it were indeed a sanctuary. “YT have kept it just as it was when—when last she used it,” he continued, in a low dreamy tone, speaking to himself more than to me. ‘I can almost fancy I see her bending over her book, or sing- ing softly to herself as she worked. What a voice she had! It seemed to draw the heart out of my body. She used to let me sit in the verandah when she was singing, and she’d talk to me between whiles in her pretty broken English. She’d always a word and a smile for ‘ Jacques,’ as she called me—always as gentle and courteous she was as if I’d been her friend and equal, instead of her servant. Ah! She was the sweetest soul that ever —— ” His voice broke ; he hastily turned his head aside. ‘T’ve got her portrait—the last she had taken, if you would like to see it,” he resumed, after a moment, and took it from a worn leather pocket-book. It was the vignette photograph of a lovely girl of one or two and twenty, with a delicate, spiritual face, framed in cloudy dark hair; a sweet sorrowful mouth, and soft steadfast dark eyes. ‘It is very like her,” was my comment. ‘¢ Ah—you knew her ?” he questioned, eagerly. ‘‘No, but I have heard her sing more than once. Her face had not this sorrowful look when I saw her last. What was her trouble, I wonder? Did she ever speak of her past life ?” ‘’No—yes. She sometimes talked of her childhood, when her parents were living.” ‘“‘ But not of her later years? She did not tell you why she gave- up her profession ?” ‘She was not likely to take me into her confidence,” he rejoined,,. evasively, and added, as if to avoid further questions: ‘‘ Perhaps. you would like to see the other rooms now?” And without waiting. for my reply, he crossed the hall and led the way upstairs. Before my tour of inspection was over, I had resolved to become the temporary tenant of The Cedars. Underwood received the announcement of my decision in silence. “IT suppose I shall have to turn out when you take posreanion ne he said at last, glancing at me half-wistfully. “Not unless you are disinclined to remain as my servant,” I replied. ‘I shall be only too glad to stay, sir, and I’ll do my best to please you,” he responded. ‘‘I don’t know whether you intend to bring a woman-servant with you; but, if not, I dare say Mrs. Foster, at the lodge, could recommend one.” ‘‘T will speak to her on my way back, and you may expect to see me this day week.” I slipped a coin into his hand, and we parted. VOL, XXXVI. Oo conniclooolks (C(O) im