The Argosy — page 324: what you’re looking at

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

Catherine versus Kate. 305 “ May I remind you again that men do not understand women ? I—who am also a proud woman and who have also endured insult from a man—seem to know more of your cousin than you do.” ‘Catherine, your tongue is sharp. But tell me—for it kills me to dwell upon myself—what man has dared to insult you ?” “The man I loved, sir.” ‘Ts it possible ?” “ Ves, sir. I had loved him all my life. I only waited for him to speak. I loved hin, sir, with a love of which you have no idea. ‘The very world was sacred to me, because he dwelt in it. I thought of him morning, noon, and night. I fell asleep with his image before my eyes, and I awoke with his name upon my lips. If he gave mea rose-bud, I treasured its withered petals ; if he touched my needle- work, it became hallowed to me. When he smiled, I was in heaven ; when he talked, the society of the gods was mine. I saw no man but him. All other men were pigmies in my sight. He so possessed me that when I looked in the glass, I marvelled that my face was mirrored there and not his!” ‘And this man did not return your love, Catherine ?” “He returned it, sir, as men do return love. He liked to mono- polise me. He couldn’t bear to see me talking to other men. He heaped me with presents and pretty things. He thought, poor fellow ! that women like fans and gloves better than esteem and con- fidence. But he doubted me, sir. He played with my finest feel- ings. He tried to test my love—he, who did not know what love was! ” “He was a villain, Catherine. But how did he test your love?” ‘Sir, he had been unsuccessful. Suddenly, he achieved a triumph. I heard of it, and my heart leapt; and I—who believed in him— thought he would come and offer me his fulness. He did come: but he tried to deceive me. He said, ‘I am a disappointed man: will you share failure and mortification with me?’ Oh, sir, it was a base and unworthy trick! I would have shared a hovel with him. But when he had a wide house ‘f ‘““He was a brute, Catherine! He deserved to be horse-whipped ! ” “Ah, do not say so, sir! He was to me only what you were to your cousin.” ‘“* Catherine ! ” ‘Yes, sir. You—both of you—handled the love of a woman to try its strength and its worth. Your touch was agony!” ‘Oh Catherine—when I loved her so much! ” “When you doubted her so much, sir! You thought—as many men think—that a woman who weds a rich man weds for riches.” The master groaned. “Catherine, for the first time since you entered my service you have been cruel to me,” he said. | ‘I ask your pardon, sir. I have overstepped my province. I must Deg you to forget what I haye said. I will leave you now, sir.” JOO ) COM cS (SO) am