The Argosy — page 250: what you’re looking at

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

“Her Francis.” 233 “ Mr.—who ?” asked Mabel, still not understanding what was in his mind, from sheer surprise at hearing the name on his lips. “Yes, Wir. Sédiey,” he repeated., “Perhapg you are offended at my want of manners. Allow me to make amends, and congratulate you now, then.” Mabel never quite remembered what happened as she stood and listened to the few words which revealed to her the cause of his un- accountable conduct. It flashed across her for the first time that, after all, they had never been quite engaged, had never had a thorough explanation. Subsequent events, rumour, might easily have made him believe her to be engaged to Hugh Sedley, and that she had only been amusing herself with him! What could he have thought of her! But he still loved her! The rush of joy flooding her heart almost stifled her, and she rushed out into the rain. He brought her back. ‘‘ Why do you not thank me for my con- gratulations ?” he asked. “Because I don’t happen to be the woman that he is going to marry.” | “Whe 1s; then ?.”’ “* My cousin—Charlotte Burns.” He staggered against the wall as white as death. ‘‘ Great heavens ! What lies people tell! Mabel, if you saw a fellow creature starving you could not hold food to his lips and then draw it away again ? ” ‘‘T have spoken the truth.” ‘‘ And yet you spent all your time with him until report gave him to you as your afhanced husband ?” ‘“‘T gave him my time and my sympathy, as I would have given them to my own brothers. He is almost a brother to me.” A deep sob shook him from head to foot. Mabel crept nearer to him, and the next few words were spoken with both her hands in his. ‘‘ Mabel, listen. When I was forced to leave you without even a word of farewell, I meant to return immediately, but my poor friend lingered—and died ; and even before then those lying tongues dealt me a death-blow. Mabel, if you ever had any love for me, tell me. It may not be too late for me to win it back.” And as he stooped his head to catch her whispered words, he heard her say that she had always loved him, even when she had tried to forget him—always—even before she had known him. “Mabel,” he said, a little hesitatingly when they were indoors. ‘I want you to do something for me—if only for once ?” “What can it possibly beR—/rank?” she said ina very small voice, and blushing rosy red. } He smiled at her answer, yet a sigh of relief escaped him, making him feel rather foolish. He looked down at her and she looked up, and then they both laughed. COnnicloooks (SO