The Argosy — page 123: what you’re looking at

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

108 Lady Valeria. ‘“T tell you I could not help it,” she retorted passionately. ‘I could stand out against my father ; I could persuade Aunt de Cressy ; but when Oliver came near me I was dumb, powerless. Huis cold blue eyes used to light up when they looked at me; his hand used to hold mine with a grip of steel. JI used to plead and protest, but his look would kill the words on my lips. I used to turn away from him, but I felt him drawing me nearer and nearer, resist as I would.” ‘ But did no thought of your husband—of your baby-boy come between you and him ?” ‘© T could not think of them when he was there. My mind seemed a blank, which he could fill as he pleased. He used to talk to me about the errors of Rome, and the noble sphere of power and use- fulness that lay before me. I tell you I cared not one whit for him or his views, or my life; sometimes I hated him—always I feared him—but I married him. Sinful, dishonoured wretch that I was!” “Ts ‘Jack,’ your first husband, alive now?” Eustace constrained himself to ask. ‘‘ You must give me no half confidence.” ‘J never cared to know. He may be. He is ‘Sir John,’ I sup- pose ; married to some other woman, perhaps. /7e left me willingly, but my boy was stolen from me. It is for Azm I am sorrowing and repenting.” “You believe he is still living 2” Believe? I 2now it. I have been hoping and seeking ever since Oliver died, and at last, by a chance—I cannot tell you how—I got news that he still lives. Lives! and away from me!” ‘And you want me to bring him to you; or, to find him, and bring you news of him?” Her face lighted with rapture, but his upraised hand stayed her reply. ‘J will undertake nothing unless I possess your full confidence. You have gained news of him by chance—in some manner you do not care to make known. Tell me what it amounted to.” ‘“ "The Magraths took my boy for their own. Their little Stephen died in the fever, so mine took his place. Afterwards in America, when other children were born to them, they were ready enough to part with him to a rich English lady, who has adopted him and brought him up as a gentleman—the poor boy!” The Vicar listened frowningly. “Do you know where the Magraths are to be found ?” She shook her head. ‘‘I have poured out money like water to find them, here and in America, and I have failed.” “Do you know the name of the rich English lady—your son’s present name, of course?” She shook her head again. ‘‘I never heard it.” “Why do you call him ‘ Jack’ when he must have been known as ‘Stephen ?’ he asked, suddenly raising his keen piercing eyes to hers. She frowned uneasily. ‘‘I always thought of him by that name, ECORMICLOOOKS. (EO) m a ——— en ————————————eE_EOEeEeeEeEeEeEeEeEeEeEeEeEeEeEeEeEeEeEeEeEeEeEeEeEeEEEEEeeEeEEeEeEeEeEeEeeeee- ssc