The Argosy — page 199: what you’re looking at

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

182 Lady Valeria. knowledge of the wrong I have done you, for you ave doubly wronged. Not only must I take from you your inheritance, but my love must go with it to your supplanter. I cannot help loving him—my eldest born. They took him from me at his birth, but my love endured. They told me he was dead but I felt that he lived, and the hope has kept me alive to this day. You can find out for yourself the story of my first marriage. It was known to your father before he married me —No I cannot write to you about that. Go to Mr. Stannard, of St. Fridolin’s, and ask him to tell you what he knows. He did his best for me, but it was not through him that my lost one has been found again. He—your brother—will bring you this. Not till I am dead. You will forgive me more easily then. ‘Think of my piteous story, Oliver. Think, cow/d I look you in the face knowing that you knew it? He will wait, he promises me, and you will act honestly by him, I can trust you. Ask him for proofs if you will; I need none. He has his father’s face and voice, and is—I solemnly declare to you—-my son—my very son, whom [I shall see but once more in this world. I write this in readiness to give into his hands. I write it deliberately in my full senses. Ask your sister, who shall witness my signature to this, though she is ignorant of its contents. My good, dutiful son, I grieve for you and your pain, but I die happy trusting in your love and loyalty to me. |§ Your Mother, VALERIA Mary MEYNELL. (Witnessed) MaBeL GERALDINE BRANT. 14 June, 1882. Eustace read the letter aloud, slowly and thoughtfully. A low moan broke from Oliver as he ceased, and Magrath heaved a decorous sigh. ‘‘ You will bear me witness that it reached you with the sea} unbroken. Rather a heavy risk for an impostor to run, eh ?” Mr. Meynell turned on him wearily and impatiently. ‘There was evidently no further fight to be expected from him. ‘You shall have your money. It may take me some little time to raise such a sum ; the property itself would not fetch the half if we were forced to sell now 3 ‘¢ Why sell?” interrupted Magrath, eagerly. ‘‘ Pay me the value by instalments. I didn’t expect a cheque for the lot on the spot, though I shouldn’t think you’d find any difficulty in drawing: one in ‘Pay me off in so many months—by Christmas if you like—and come! [ll meet you fair and square. I'll be content to deposit these valuables with a mutual friend—let us say Mr. Stannard—in the in- terval. He shall give me a receipt, though!” with another con- fidential wink at the clergyman. ‘By Christmas? ‘That 1s short enough time for the arrangement I must make. Shorter than Law would have demanded. I have to provide for Mabel’s portion, too,” Meynell said, with gloomy anxiety. ‘You don’t think, then, that my sister and brother-in-law would be CONMMICMOOOKS. ©