The Argosy — page 85: what you’re looking at

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

70 The Oleander. saw Diana. She told her of his love, his constancy, his faith, his prayers, and Diana’s heart responded only too readily to her suppli- cation. ‘Together they planned their flight. On reaching London, Diana insisted on having Tito removed to her own comfortable house, and sent for Mrs. Prosser, the old housekeeper at the Court, ‘to make it quite proper,” as Millicent said, with a little laugh. | ‘But, Millicent,” I asked, ‘‘how could you undertake such a responsibility? Iam not sure but that abetting a young lady in her love affairs, when not of age, is actionable, and I am quite certain that Welford would not at all mind bringing a suit against you.” “Then Diana and I will plead our own cause,” replied Milly, ‘and win over judge and jury in a twinkling. Only fancy Diana appearing at Westminster with her lovely eyes and white hair! Why there’s not a barrister alive wouldn’t dance out of wig and gown to serve her. Did you notice her hair, Theresa? It turned snow-white during our journey from Italy. It was the only sign the anxiety and strain of those two terrible days left upon her.” I think there is little more to be told. Antonio de Lisle did recover, but not until the summer was far on the wane. Lord Welford and Lady Paragon were very angry with Lady Diana, and threatened many things, but Welford had pledged his word to yield consent when the oleander bloomed again, and he was too true a gentleman to forget, and as Diana seemed unconscious of them all, in time their ire died out for want of fuel to feed it. Antonio’s portrait of the Lady Diana and oleander blooms, was the gem of the Academy ; it hangs now at Heron’s Court, and is treasured beyond all price. In October, the old, ovey church in Hampshire was gaily decked and festooned in honour of the young bride who walked forth from out its shadowy porch, her hand upon her husband’s arm. It is not necessary for me to say that the beautiful bride was the Lady Diana and her husband Antonio de Lisle. That was twelve years ago, and yet I think you will not easily find another such home, or such married happiness as theirs. Do you know now whose is the spirit that dominates the Lady Diana’s boudoir, and why her lovely eyes are retrospective and a little sad ? | My friends, we can bear with marvellous fortitude trials almost beyond human strength, but they leave their traces, indelible and indefaceable, upon our hearts, and of what the heart endures the countenance is ofttimes the mirror. The oleander has never bloomed again. Gomicbooks.com Yr