The Argosy — page 322: what you’re looking at

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

Catherine versus Kate. 303 “No. She smiled on me for some years. Then Lord Angelo came into the neighbourhood and she smiled on him. I was at a discount. She clapped her hands when he made one ridiculous run, and she looked aside while I was bowling down half a dozen wickets. And when Lady X. gave a ball she danced with Lord Angelo all the evening, and never once with me. She tore my heart to pieces, Catherine. We had been playmates from childhood, and she knew I loved her, and yet she turned voluntarily from me and gave herself to this miserable Angelo !” “Gave herself! Did she become engaged to him, sir?” “No. But she encouraged his attentions and slighted me. She may be engaged to him now—or even married to him. I do not care. She was heartless.” | “Nay, sir, you must not abuse one woman to another. Supposing you misled the lady? Supposing she loved you and was mortified by your silence? Supposing she employed Lord Angelo as a bait to lure youon? ‘To be sure, that is an old artifice and a stupid one. But when a woman loves—and thinks her lover half-hearted—even an old artifice may serve her turn.” ‘“‘ Half-hearted, Catherine! But I loved her so dearly that I went on thorns when I saw her with that little jackanapes !” “That is how men love, sir. You cannot understand how she loved.” ‘But she did not love, Catherine.” ‘‘ How are you sure of that, sir, if you never spoke to her?” “She would have given me to understand, had she loved me. We were cousins and very intimate.” “‘ Ah, sir, the most intimate cousin is still a woman! Perhaps she thought that she did give you to understand, and you understood not. A woman’s hint is sometimes too fine for a man to see. You should remember, sir, that when you deal with women, you deal with organisms so tender and delicate that no masculine eye but Shakespeare’s has ever been able to detect their subtleties.” | “Catherine, you speak from a noble heart! But I—who have loved—know more.” “It seems to me, sir, that you mistook manly jealousy for love, and womanly pride for indifference.” ‘You think she loved me ? ” *“‘ It is not for me to express an opinion, sir.” “Oh, Catherine, if I thought—! But no—TI must steel my wounded heart. You havenot heard all. Four months ago my god- father died ; he left me his fortune and this place. Suddenly, I found I was a rich man.” 3 * And—you hastened to your cousin, sir, and—told her of your fortune and asked her to share it? ” “Not so, Catherine. I employed finesse. I could not forget the monkey Angelo who had been always rich, and I determined to | COMMIClOOOKS (SO) an