The Argosy — page 144: what you’re looking at

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

Christobel. 129 Mr. Hillyer was glacial; Geraldine sorrowful; Godfrey unusually earnest. Mrs. Chisholm thought the opportunity a good one for being insolent unrebuked, and was greatly surprised, not to say cha- erined, when Mr. Sherlock transfixed everybody else with amazement by asking Miss Fane if she would leave an address. Christobel crimsoned to the roots of her hair. It was evident that the demand embarrassed as much as it astonished her. With an effort, the girl replied that a letter addressed to Vere Street Post Office would always find her; and then she turned to go. Nobody spoke as she passed down the room, for the latest incident, as heightening the mys- tery which surrounded her, had impressed even Geraldine unfavourably. But as she reached the door, Godfrey sprang forward to open it, and uttered some words in a low voice, which, though unheard, were ob- served by two people—Mrs. Chisholm and Geraldine. The former was maliciously delighted—the latter turned pale, and endured an hour of doubt’s keenest anguish. But since her engagement to Godfrey had become a settled thing, she had learnt to know him very well, and to trust him with ali the fulness of a nature sweet indeed, but not uncourageous. And, later, she frankly asked him if he had been previously acquainted with Christobel. “You have guessed it, then,” said Godfrey, taking his betrothed’s two little hands into his own. ‘“‘ Yes; I had known Christobel Fane before meeting her here, and I am acquainted with some facts of her strange and tragic history. I have never told you anything because I could not tell you all. But you are just and true, my darling. Will you trust me, and believe in her ? ” Geraldine laid her pretty golden head on his shoulder, and said gently, ‘I will never ask you another question, and I will trust you tr oe ena,” EY: GODFREY and Geraldine were to have been married before Christmas, when two unexpected events altered their plans. One of the younger Hillyer children fell ill of a lingering malady, and was ordered to London for treatment and advice. The little invalid had been Geraldine’s especial care, and to leave her while ill was not to be thought of. So the marriage was put off: and the next thing to happen was the sudden and unexpected engagement of Mr. Hillyer to Mrs. Chisholm. This event took everybody by surprise—the chief parties concerned, perhaps, as much as anybody. Perverseness on the gentleman’s side and disappointment on the lady’s probably accounted for their resolu- tion. Mr. Hillyer, in his sullen, soured way, never lost the opportunity of doing a foolish thing ; and Mrs. Chisholm had awakened abruptly to the knowledge that her admirers were diminishing as the signs of age in her increased. Be this as it may, the engagement was an ac Ol? XE. | K COMMICOOOKS.C©