The Argosy — page 69: what you’re looking at

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

56 Christobel. Two hours later, in Miss Millicent’s bed-room, Christobel Fane was kneeling in front of her benefactress ; her head bent upon her hands, her frame shaken with sobs. ‘“ It is too much; I cannot continue. I have not the strength,” she wailed. “Ungrateful girl! I will never forgive you if you break your pro- mise now,” the old woman answered, and her face was sombre, her tones were harsh. ‘‘ Who rescued you from a life you hated? Who clothed and fed you when you might have starved ? And what did I ask of you in return? Nothing, except to be silent.” “It is the deception I shrink from,” said the girl, raising her beautiful eyes imploringly. ‘“‘T have no patience with such scruples. You think of nobody but yourself. You care nothing for him.” Christobel’s sobs grew louder, and Miss Millicent resumed, after an angry pause: ‘‘ Deception, for- sooth! And what better treatment do they deserve, these creatures who care more for the world’s opinion than for their own flesh and blood ?” ‘““Let us go from here,” entreated Christobel, and put her arms supplicatingly round the rigid old form. ‘‘ He does not need us now ; he 1s happy enough. If ever sorrow overtakes him again, we can com- fort him—we who love him. But why sacrifice truth and sincerity and self-respect for the sake of a paltry ambition ? ” ‘““Paltry !” echoed Miss Millicent, her eyes flaming with excite- ment. ‘‘ Child! you don’t know what you say. You are young ; you are lovely ; the world is all before. You have never been really un- happy.” Christobel’s head sank lower, and she moaned. ‘Ah! you think you have known sorrow, perhaps, for young hearts are impatient. But you have not sat, like me, for years by a lonely hearth ; with nothing to look forward to but darkness, nothing to remember but one great shame. I have longed for the sight of his face, as only those caz long whose lot has been loveless and embittered.” She stopped abruptly, for her voice broke, although her eyes were tearless. Her face, usually hard, had grown grey and anguished ; and when Christobel, taking her hand, began to stroke it softly, she was seized with a violent trembling. Presently, she broke out again, passionately : ‘“‘T have hated the laughter, and wearied of the sorrow of others, just because of the void in my own aching heart. When you came at last after so long—so long—it seemed like the promise of a better time. Do you also intend to disappoint me ? ” “IT will stay with you always,” cried Christobel. ‘Ves, on your own terms,” answered Miss Millicent, hardening again suddenly and repelling her embrace. “ But that is not what I need, Christobel. You must reward me in my way, or not at all.” Christobel sighed and rose from her knees. “If I understood your plans better ———” she began. ECOMMICELIOOKS.E© m