The Argosy — page 115: what you’re looking at

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

00 Lady Valeria. tainly. Not forlove though. Do not set your thoughts on him, my little one.” “Mrs. Beltran! how could I do such a thing?” gasped Elsie, scandalised. ‘‘ He is the Vicar, and the son of a lord.” “Ehe” Mrs. Beltran raised her eyebrows and looked attentive. «You must tell me all about him by-and-by. He is so good, you say. And his sermons so beautiful. When will you take me to hear one ?” It was Elsie’s turn to look surprised. Delightful as Mrs. Beltran’s companionship had been, it had never suggested church-going some- how. “Iso seldom hear him,” she lamented. ‘Only on Sundays. I can’t go alone, and father disapproves of week-day services.” Mrs. Beltran nodded again. ‘The second pack was exhausted, and the cards disposed in order. ‘‘ You say he preaches this evening. Your father will not be at home, nor, consequently, your brother, eh?” Her white teeth gleamed maliciously, and she gave a know- ing nod as she spoke, while Elsie sighed. ‘‘ We will go then. It will prevent you fretting after them both. I have nothing more to tell you about him. You will owe him some trouble and some good fortune eventually, that is all.” ‘And the next ?” asked Elsie, curiously. ‘‘ The Fair Woman?” Mrs. Beltran drew out a third pack from the pocket of her apron, which seemed as plentifully supplied as the sleeve of the Heathen Chinee. They were not the usual-sized card, but fully a third smaller, and printed on board as light as that used for visiting-cards, with plain, white, glazed backs. Mrs. Beltran gave the pack to Elsie to cut three times, then dealt the cards in a heap face upwards till a Diamond Queen appeared, when she proceeded to fit the remaining cards into her pattern, still continuing her careless talk, so at variance with the gntense scrutiny of her black eyes. ‘‘ Here she is, you see, following the Dark King. And here she crosses your path—once—twice. Distrust that fair woman, even while accepting her benefits. She will turn against you at last—not till the coming of the Fair King, though. Aha! Nowcut this pack. Here he is. You are getting interested in him, are you? Little prude! I dare not hint at his good fortune. A lover for you, my Elsie. Young, handsome, and rich! Take care of him and keep him to yourself when you get him, ray little Queen of Hearts.” “Oh! don’t!” pleaded the girl, putting up her hand to screen her hot cheeks, with a ring of such pain in her voice that Mrs. Beltran stopped astonished. ‘‘A lover? No. Tell that to anyone else— not to me /” The poor, wasted little hands seemed in one eloquent gesture at once to call attention to, and plead for pity for, her crippled state, while her indignant eyes and flaming cheeks protested against such anockery. ECOMMICMOOOKS.E@)