The Argosy — page 363: what you’re looking at

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

342 Lady Valeria. His mistress dropped into sudden silence. Zombi ended by plac- ing himselfin front of her and uttering a short muffled cry once or twice. ‘Then shaking her long hair down, so that it shrouded her face like a veil, she commenced a low monotonous croon in a language Elsie did not understand. It went on for many minutes, a melancholy chant with a constantly recurring burden. At the first notes Zombi had risen and, stepping gravely, begun to pace:round and round the bucket till Elsie grew dizzy with watching him, uttering his cry at intervals. Suddenly the song stopped, and he, too, stood motionless. Elsie dared not break the silence that followed. It fell on her like the touch of a cold hand in the warm exciting air of the place. Mrs. Beltran rose, and with bowed head and outstretched hands muttered what seemed a giving of thanks, and signed to Elsie to uncover the water. There, on its surface, floated a flower-gem in its fairy boat, fresh, glowing, perfumed, and Elsie, with a cry, fell on her knees beside it. “Take it,” spoke Mrs. Beltran. ‘It will live—this one—till it has done its work.” Elsie seized it greedily, then raised her eyes from it to her friend’s dark face alight with strange meaning. “Its work?” she demanded, doubtfully. “Oh, no, I cannot take it!” she cried, with suddenenergy. ‘‘ How do I know what its work may be? Oh, forgive me. You are wise and strong, I am weak and ignorant, and I am frightened—I am frightened! Not of you only but of myself. I dare take no more from your hands. I am grateful from the depths of my heart for what you have already done, but no more, no more! Oh, forgive me, and take this back !” She almost flung the flower at the feet of Mrs. Beltran, and walked resolutely tothe door. Mrs. Beltran, gazing at her with a dull, lowering look, marked how her face flushed with pain though she kept back all other sign. Zombi gained the couch-back with a fierce, silent spring, his fur on end, his eyes giving out wicked sparks of green light. At the door Elsie paused with her hand on the latch, but it was only to turn a piteous, childish face full of tears on her would-be benefactress, as if asking forgiveness for all offence, and then she went away. Mrs. Beltran resumed her seat, her chin on her hands, her face inscrutable, except, perhaps, to Zombi, who placed himself in front of her, his green eyes on her velvet-black ones. Neither stirred till the cat gently extended his fore-paws to their utmost stretch and drew them back, the claws cutting and tearing the rug with a slow, savage enjoyment. ‘Then his mistress cut her meditations short with a laugh and shrug of her shoulders, and, throwing herself back, settled herself to the contemplations of the good times to come, chanting to herself a jovial ditty, more curious than elegant, with a refrain of ‘ Hourre! Maringo! baisez-moi!’”’ CORNICLOOKS (EO) im