The Argosy — page 340: what you’re looking at

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

The Missing Rubies. 319 As for his companions, the elder was a quiet little gentlewoman, past middle age ; and the younger was one of those girls who, where- ever they appear, are sure to attract the eyes of men. Not that she strove in any way to win notice. To her the whole scene was so delightfully new, that she had forgotten to think about herself at all. But the fresh, soft face, the faultless complexion, and the rip- pling hair with its golden lights, were not likely to pass unseen, even in a crowd which comprised a good deal of the beauty and fashion of town. ‘The black gown with its heart-shaped bodice, revealed a beau- tiful neck and throat; and a cluster of white flowers and maidenhair were her only adornments. She was tall, considerably taller than her chaperon ; and the people near could get a good view of her features and figure as she went to her seat. In the row of stalls behind Godwin’s party there sat a young woman and an elderly man, who both favoured Miss Ward with their attention, and said something to each other in a low tone. The lady was seven-and-twenty, and looked thirty, for hers was a face that is mever young when extreme youth has fled. ‘The aquiline features had always been a little too sharp for perfect beauty; the chin was too prominent ; the lips were too thin. The eyes, rather small, were light blue ; and the complexion (lovely in girlhood) had lost the apple- blossom freshness of pink-and-white, and was slightly faded. But the pale golden hair was prettily dressed ; and a set of good old family pearls added to the wearer’s look of distinction. Still, time had not dealt as tenderly with Miss Lindrick as he deals with a woman of large mind and heart. She was pinched and chilled, partly by training, partly by a certain meanness inherited from her father. The girl whom Godwin had wooed and loved so truly, had slowly changed into a hard woman. Just as Godwin Earle was entering the theatre, Alma had caught sight of him. She had given him up; yet in a chilly little way, she very nearly loved him still. Her heart began to throb fast at that first glimpse of his face. He was looking so well, too; not handsome (many men of less refinement were far handsomer), but haughty, and well set up and prosperous. Yes, decidedly prosperous. Had there by any chance come to him some wonderful change of fortune? Had anybody died and left him some money? No, Alma could not entertain that last idea for a moment. She had always been well acquainted with the family history of the Earles, and knew that there was no wealth among them. And in spite of improved appearance, she believed that the taint of a certain suspicion must be clinging to Godwin still. The old ladies at Meadow House had intended carefully to preserve the secret of his disgrace. But young Olga Gradizoff, silly and incautious, had one day babbled of family matters to the Lindricks, and they had very soon extracted from her the whole story of the loss of the necklace. COMMICOOOKS.c© An