The Argosy — page 73: what you’re looking at

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

58 The Oleander. a pity, Theresa, but I am afraid I must break up Camnilla’s little game.” Then, without apology, he strolled away from me, and rejoined his friend. I crept backto my corner and watched Diana, as she rested from her waltz, and fanned her flushed cheeks with the feathers of an ibis. Before her stood Tito de Lisle, his dark face all alight with animation. He was looking down upon her, and she with her beauti- ful eyes upraised, listened to his words, while a tender little smile played about the corners of her mouth. Across the pretty comedy came Welford, followed by his friend. There was a moment’s silence. De Lisle stood aside, and Horace Browne bowed low before Lady Diana. But the girl made no re- sponse ; she drew up her slender form to its full height ; she lowered her crimson fan, and with one stately curtsey she turned from him, and putting her hand on Tito’s arm, walked swiftly away from her brother and his disconcerted companion. Lord Welford’s face grew very dark ; he muttered something beneath his breath; then, with an easy laugh, laid his hand upon Horace Browne’s arm, and both shortly afterwards left the room. The fair spring days gave place to the deeper glories of summer. Diana was very happy, despite her aunt’s complaints and her brother’s half-scornful, half-threatening words, when in their rare in- terviews he renewed the subject of Horace Browne’s pretensions to her hand. Yes, she was very happy, and the truth of her happiness lay neither in the bottom of a well nor in a leaden casket, for was not Antonio de Lisle always at her side? And did it need any brighter eyes than mine to read the sweet story opening before them, in all its beauty and all its pain ? Alas! poor Lady Diana! Of what was she dreaming when she let her fancy wander away to a possible future, when Tito’s presence would be hers by right of possession, and Tito’s Tuscan eyes never wander far from the fairness of her face? A daughter of Lord Welford marry a poor painter and half a foreigner! That would be a horror so overwhelming as to strike terror even into the cold hearts and lifeless forms of all the brave Earls of Welford, who lay _ sO quiet and so still in the little old church in Hampshire. In July the house in Park Lane was closed, and we all went down to Heron’s Court. At first Diana was as bright and happy as need be, and to my eyes became more and more beautiful. Then she grew a little restless, and her temper flashed out on certain occasions rather alarmingly. Then she grew listless and dull, moped all day over a book, and cried at night over her imaginary woes. This went on for some time, but as Lady Paragon did not notice it, and I was sharply repulsed for commenting upon it, there was nothing to be done. I knew what she wanted well enough ; haven’t we all of us cried for our own particular moon; and who amongst us has forgotten the hopeless misery of such weeping? Eomicbooks.¢co m