The Argosy — page 118: what you’re looking at

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

—_ a eee” sti‘ .”}.;|!}!}!t! — ay a _—_—s i ———— — ee Lady Valeria. 103 Before Eustace could reach her she came forward to meet him, quickly yet falteringly, and laid her hands on his arm, peering up into his face. “I have something to say to you. Not here, though. ‘Take me somewhere where I can speak to you in safety.” “Tet me take you to the vestry. ‘There is noone here but our- selves.” She hesitated, looking fearfully round the dark interior, which was still as a grave, but for a momentary gentle stir that might have been the flutter of a bird’s wings aloft, or even the rustle of her own silken skirts. “J am afraid!” she whispered. ‘‘ Afraid to speak ; afraid of dying without having spoken. I can trust you. You are strong, and brave, and honest. If there is a man in the world who can help me it és you.” | “Let me try, at any rate. Your secret shall be as if it had never been told. You are sure of that?” She bowed her head and he supported her up the dark side aisle to the vestry, from the half-open door of which a stream of light shot forth. The vestry was a curiously shaped room, a sort of three-cornered excrescence on the main building, cramped and crowded by a great cupboard reaching to the ceiling, where the choir surplices hung, with massive doors that were always swinging open, and a lock that worked by fits and starts. ‘There were quaint old chests too, full of church records, a table many sizes too large, andtwo chairs. Even the bright lamp that burned there only half lighted the place, and left great nooks and angles of shadow. The Vicar gave a finaland effectual slam to the swinging door, and placed his chair against it, offering the other to his visitor; but she stood in the doorway peering out into the darkness. “Ts no one there? Are you sure no one can hear us? I thought someone passed us just now.” “Only the verger, old Totterdale; Pll ask him.” The Vicar sounded a small hand-bell, and the figure of the old man appeared, dark against the dim grey opening of the porch, and shuffled hurriedly towards them. ‘The Vicar went to meet him and returned. “ He has been all over the Church. It is quite empty, and he will jock it up for the night when you go. He is very deaf, and will wait for you in the porch out of hearing.” They re-entered the vestry, and the lady sank into her chair, lean- ing her arms on the table and resting her face in her hands for a short time. ‘Do you know me?” she asked, looking up at him suddenly. There was a soft, plaintive inflection in her speech that reminded him of de Cressy somehow, but her face was strange to him. It was the face of a woman long past her youth, but. still wonderfully hand- some. Soft masses of wavy white hair were piled high above a white forehead in sharp contrast with her dark, weary, restless eyes. COMIC OOO SS (CO) im