The Argosy — page 21: what you’re looking at

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

8 Lady Valeria. ‘“ Dear Lady Valeria, you cannot be in earnest. It’s awfully good of you, but if I wished it ever so much I couldn't give myself away in that fashion, you know. I must stick to my profession, for one thing ; and besides i ‘‘ What is there besides,” she asked, in a sharp, clear tone. ‘“ Are you afraid I shall not make my promises good ?” ‘‘ Besides, I don’t exactly understand what you want me to do. I couldn’t take money from you. It wouldn’t seem at all a nght thing to do—for me or for any man.” “Tt would be right if I wished it. I would give you my whole fortune in exchange for your love.” ‘There’s where it is,” demurred Edric, strong in his convictions, weak in his expression of them. ‘I should feel you were being swindled, if I were to pretend to accept your offer. Why, we are strangers, you and I, we know nothing of one another. I have been fancying that perhaps I am like someone you cared for once upon a time.” She clutched his hand tighter, and he felt the trembling that seized her, and heard her breath catch witha sob. ‘‘ Tell me any- thing else I can do to please you,” he said, kindly, ‘‘and I’ll do it, but you mustn’t talk of money again.” She looked up at him in mute supplication, studying his kind, per- plexed young face with her dark, yearning eyes, driving back the sobs and words that seemed ready to break from her lips, holding his hand still in a clasp that seemed as if it would never slacken. “You will take nothing from me—nothing. Not my love? And you will give me nothing. Nota word of kindness, not a kiss. Oh, my boy, my boy! ‘The sorrow falls, as he said it would, where the suilt lies. JZ must bear it to my grave, but you—you are happy? Prosperous? You have never known the want of love and care in your life?” She looked greedily for his assent at each pause. ‘That is justice—Heaven’s justice. What am I that I should beg its mercy ?” She turned from Edric as she spoke, and he rose, loth to leave her, yet uncertain how far it was wise to prolong this strange scene. She rose too, calm now by comparison, her eyelids drooping wearily, her beautiful old lips curved piteously. “You want to leave me now?” she asked, looking so wistful, so: forlorn and shaken, that Edric’s heart ached as he answered her. “It is late. I have some way to go,” and he involuntarily stretche@ out his arms fearing she would faint and fall. She sank into them and rested there lightly, her eyes closed, her lips very white. He kissed her forehead softly, once—twice. ‘‘ Jack !” she whispered, and a smile flickered over her face. She raised her head and looked at him, still smiling. ‘‘I shall die now,” she said, softly. ‘I have hoped and prayed for death for so long in yain, but now I feel the promise of its coming. You will not be sorry you have held me near your heart and kissed me, some day—when I am dead.” ECORNICLOOKSs.E© im