The Argosy — page 77: what you’re looking at

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

64 Mrs. Carr’s Companion. times blame myself for selfishness in letting you make sucha sacrifice. Yet how could I give you up ong He held her at arm’s length to gaze at her with passionate tender- ness. Her lips quivered, she tried to speak, but for a minute or two no words would come. “It is only that you are too good for me!” she faltered brokenly at last. And at the words, which seemed to dispel his lingering doubts, he clasped her to him and kissed her again and again. This time, although she did not return, she passively allowed his caresses. Released at length, she stood with burning cheeks and watched him drive away, him whom she was next to meet upon her wedding morning! He waved his hand as he went and strained his eyes for the last sight of her. And Rose? Rose stood motionless where he had left her, with drooping head and clasped hands, her eyes fixed upon the massive emerald-studded engagement ring upon her left hand. Once she even made a movement as though to tear it off. But she stopped in time. ‘‘ No, I cannot, I cannot!” she said at last, under her breath. “Tt would break his heart ! ” That last week of Rose Egerton’s maiden life sped away swiftly. There were friends to receive, farewell visits to pay, presents innumer- able to unpack. Anyone for whom the Archdeacon had ever done a kindness, anyone who hoped that he might do them a kindness, protégés of Lady Mary’s, pensioners of Olive’s, relatives, friends, and pretty well every visiting acquaintance who had ever broken bread under her mother’s roof united in sending in a heterogeneous collection to the pretty bride. Mirrors were in vogue—she received six: travelling clocks— eight ticked upon the table, and chimed the hours in voices loud or soft, metallic or pleasing. She could welcome her friends to after- noon tea in china of nine different patterns! Five huge albums were prepared to receive portraits of all shapes and sizes! ‘Thirteen fans in satin, lace, fret-work, foreign or English, lay ready to temper the overheated atmosphere for the future Mrs. Kane. A few seasons back, friends desirous of making a wedding-present had chiefly ex- pressed their feelings in ormolu ; now brass was the order of the day ; and Rose’s half-dozen or so of gold bracelets were quite overshadowed by the brazen prominence of a score of other ornaments for house or table. But nothing could outshine the Kane diamonds, which afforded a nine-days’ wonder to the good people of St. Brenda’s, till— till something more important distracted the public attention. ‘The wedding-breakfast was to include fifty guests: a large At Home was to follow later in the day. Amid all the turmoil and excitement of preparation, Rose began to look pale and thin. Her mother was occupied and busy in her majestic way. Even Olive’s hands were full, ECOPMEDOOKS. CO im