The Argosy — page 23: what you’re looking at

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

10 The White Witch. just come to me and say, ‘ Godfrey, help me,’ and I will pour out my heart’s—I mean I will put forth my best strength to aid you. Do not shrink away ; do not mistake me: I am not making love to you,” continued he, utterly unconscious that, motionless as he was stand- ing before her, deliberately as he was forcing himself to speak, some- thing in his face and voice made this a transparent mistake: “and I never will. But I want you to see that whatever happens, whatever you like to do, whatever you have done, there is always one person in the world to whom you can go, and who will protect and shield | you.” | She sank down on a chair, with her arms on the table, and laying her head upon them, burst intotears. Godfrey turned to the window, clasping his hands together with a grip like iron, while calling up all his self-control. But for the time and place, he would have liked to take her to his breast and comfort her, ‘Don’t cry; you had better not cry,” said he, apathetically. ‘‘T cannot help it,” she answered, getting back her self-command in very shame at showing the weakness; and she raised her head and dried her eyes, without looking at him. ‘‘I have never in all my life before had anyone to go to for help in need.” He could not restrain a sudden movement, and she turned to him quickly. ‘You cannot help me,” said she, ‘‘ more than by just that—letting me see that you are sorry for me; that you will not help to chase me down. Listen,” she continued, stopping the outburst on his lips, ‘I will just tell you this ; yes, yes, I want to tell you, and I am not say- ing anything but truth to you now. More than two years ago, when I was scarcely nineteen, I did something wrong ; something to ruin my whole life.” She glanced up, and saw, by the acute pain that mingled with the pity in his face, that he was mistaking her words. **No, no!” she cried eagerly, with a burning blush; “it was not —not anything that you would be likely to think of: but it was some- gor Be foolish and wrong, and it spoiled my life and happiness.” ‘‘'Yes,” breathed Godfrey, in agitation: and waited for her next words. “Tt was the work of a rash mad impulse; of love, not for a man, but fora woman. I cannot tell you what it was, or even its nature, because there were others concerned in it, and it might be dangerous, and I have bound myself by cruel promises that I must keep. But I can tell you this: mine was not the worst guilt, though it is mine to have the worst punishment. And there is no escape,” | “But there shall be,” said Godfrey, with trembling lips. “No, no,” she said, wearily, “‘there cannot be. And —” dropping her voice, and casting a shuddering glance around her—* I am afraid that I am being hunted down. If so—why, then there will perhaps never more be any escape for me in this world. Now good-night ; thank you for your kindness. I don’t know why I have told you this,” Gomicbooks.com