The Argosy — page 190: what you’re looking at

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

Lady Valeria. 173 “All you can give me,” was the comprehensive reply. ‘First of all, who is this?” And she turned to the pale little daughter hanging on his arm, her great eyes open in astonishment at her father’s new and splendid acquaintance. Mr. Paramount’s pinched features relaxed, and a faint frost-bitten smile played round the corners of his mouth. ‘This is my little girl, Elsie. She belongs to the parish ; born and christened here and brought up within the sound of St. Fridolin’s bell.” An electric flash of mutual interest and sympathy passed in a look from one fair face to the other before Mrs. Damien spoke again, slowly and with a radiant smile. “JT think I need go no further. I came here to look for a friend and I think I have found one. I want first of all someone to advise me and to help me. Do you think Elsie will?” Elsie’s face flushed with rapture, and her eyes glowed with soft enthusiasm. ‘‘What can / do?” she breathed in shy, tremulous tones, as she put her hand in the warm, soft clasp that sought it. Mrs. Damien made her sit beside her on the old oaken bench, and still holding her hand told her her errand. How she was rich, friend- less and idle, surrounded at home by rich, many-friended, and well- occupied folk, in no need of her. How chance had brought her to St. Fridolin’s, where she fancied a niche might be found for her ; to all, of which Elsie listened with devotional rapture and Mr. Paramount doubtfully, as savouring of Romish doctrine of self-sacrifice and mortification. Still he would not deny that there was more to do in the Parish than 4e could see way to manage; much that was not in the line of either curate or churchwarden ; and, providing there was. no nonsense of Guilds or Festivals mixed up in it, he for his part, would have no objection to see it done ; which concession gained him such a dazzling sunshiny smile of thanks that his miserable little features melted under it and he beamed in return, and, furthermore, escorted his beautiful new acquaintance to her carriage with quite a dash of youthful gallantry. So, regardless of weather or calendar, began the summer days of Elsie’s life. With Mrs. Damien came the sunshine; new life; new thoughts; new work. It was tonic to the poor child’s spirit. Her stunted, under-fed mind grew and expanded, perhaps over-rapidly. Her beauty developed and refined with her mental growth, but took an added touch of wistful sadness. Perhaps with the growing know- ledge of life and all that it held came a keener sense of her own. cruel limitations. ‘Only a fine lady’s freak,” had repeated the Vicar! but the days. of chill October when he first met her passed and November with its. fogs followed, and still he knew it lasted. He saw her, sometimes at one of the daily services, sometimes driving through the busy streets, sometimes escorted by de Cressy, making her way into some very dingy regions with the air of being quite at home there. COMmMicoooks (CO) im