The Argosy — page 55: what you’re looking at

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

40 | Godmother Dorothy. astounding revelation. Lady Dorothy Champneys, Mrs. Pierpoint ! My godmother here, all the time comparing my letters and knowing that I considered her an Impostor. To whom hadI been writing, and with which was I in love? Both were the same, of course: but, I lifted my dazed head, and—there she stood. “ Are you very angry—past all forgiveness?” she demanded, in a soft little voice. ‘‘It seemed such an innocent little plot—and all for May’s sake. I didn’t know how utterly it had failed till your letter reached me this morning.” She suddenly blushed red as a rose. I kept a pitiless silence. ‘““You seemed so set against the poor child, and wrote so disagreeably _ and sarcastically about matchmakers and their victims, that it was a temptation to give you a lesson ; or at any rate to determine that May should have a fair chance—that you should be forced into forming an unprejudiced judgment of her. It was such an opening!” she pleaded. ‘‘We came home unexpectedly. I had absolutely nothing to do, and nowhere in particular to go, and was just speculating on the possibility of taking you unawares at Rocksedge, when in came your letter, telling me even the train by which you were going down there yourself.” “So the meeting was a put up thing ?”’ “ Didn’t I tell you so?” slightly laughing. “ And the photograph ?” I demanded, still stern. “That was taken after the theatricals. You know I told you all about them. I was disgusted when I found you took that thing for a genuine likeness; too disgusted to undeceive you, especially as I hadn’t a better to send.” “And you read all the letters I wrote to you about yourself?” “Of course—” faltering for the first time. ‘ What then?” ‘“This! You were acting a part for a few days’ amusement, while I was unhappily in earnest—in bitter earnest ! ” She stood with her head bent, silent and confused. “However, I am glad of it,” I declared, springing to my feet and confronting her. ‘It has helped me to find out something that I might have gone through my life unknowing. I understand you now, Lady Dorothy !” | She lifted her dark eyes affrighted. ‘‘ What do you understand ?” “That you love me, Dorothy, as I love you. You cou/d not be Dorothy—the Dorothy that I have known and loved all these long years, my darling, and have played your part to the end, if you had not meant the end to be... . Tunis!” And I caught her in my arms. Eomicbooks.co m