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

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

62 | The Oleander. Diana, but I am your guardian, and unless you please me in your choice of a husband you will drive me to sterner actions. You can listen to no love and wed no suitor, save such as I sanction. Be obedient, and I will be gentle and show you only love and protection ; but—do not cross me, Diana.” Lady Diana looked at him earnestly as he spoke, all the passion and fire of her heart glowing in her eyes. As she stood, white and dauntless before him, her cheeks burned hotly, the waxen oleander flower quivered in her tightly-clasped fingers, as its delicate petals drooped in the fierce noonday sun. Then with a sudden long-drawn sigh, as if awakening from sleep or dream, she moved towards him, her satins trailing after her catching and reflecting the sunbeams. I saw the look upon her face, and I knew that Antonio de Lisle had spoken, and the love wavering in her heart against the pride and prejudice of her race and order, which, if left alone, might possibly have proved too feeble to combat the instincts and education of her creed, was by Welford’s ill-advised interference fanned into a depth and constancy that would render the sequel of this morning’s action more complex and doubtful than it at present seemed. In a voice as low and even as his own she answered him: “You have said enough, Welford. It hurts me, indeed, to think how much of insult you have bestowed upon me. If as a woman [I have no claim upon your manhood, as a sister I might surely urge one. JI amto have no suitor save as you direct—then I will have none. Iam to wed no man save as you may choose—then I will never marry. You have chosen to insinuate a sordid motive for Mr. de Lisle’s attentions to me; you have not spared him or me in what you say ; and you pretend it is affection that rules your actions to- wards me. Unfortunately I call it by a less generous name. Be careful ; you may take one step too far, and what you think to force on me may turn to your own hurt.” “To you mean this for a challenge, Diana—your will against mine?” said Lord Welford in low, determined tones. Then, before she could reply, he turned from her with a careless laugh and called out : ‘ Alas! Millicent, was it for ¢#zs I spent my valuable time to pro- cure at your request yonder pink spray Diana cherishes so ardently ? It is another lesson in woman’s deceit! You told me of your desire, Millicent, but you forgot to mention the reason, or the use for the pretty trifle.” His mirth was interrupted by Diana, who with a short, hard cry burst forth: ‘*I despise you, Welford! You are cowardly in your taunts. And to think I owe ¢Ais to you.” She caught the pink flower in her fingers and ruthlessly tore it apart, casting the pe- tals from her in a passion of scorn; then she flung down the denuded stalk and trampled it under her feet. ‘“T despise you!” she cried under her breath, and with a superb gesture of head and hands she passed from us and wert towards the Gomicbooks (E(0) mn |