The Argosy — page 38: what you’re looking at

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

Fatthful unto Death. 25 there would be room for him if he liked to come, but Lionel, while thanking him, said he feared he was engaged. And when we got there a little late, for Tom was detained by a client, there in a box on the opposite side, sat Lionel with the Bettingtons and Eva Bellair; Eva next to him. She had a glittering diamond locket on her neck, and I wondered who had given it to her. No girl in the house was so lovely as she, with her flashing violet eyes and purple-black hair, her rose-tinted cheeks, and her animation. His fair head was bending to her perpetually, almost touching her pretty ear now and again. Behind my chair sat David Malcolm, talking to me in a low voice at intervals: but never an allusion did he make to the opposite box. ‘“‘ Grace East must be a simpleton to persist in her engagement to young Payne!” said one lady to another. “It is easy to be seen where his love is lavished.” ‘Possibly it never was given to Grace,” answered the other. ** She has three hundred a year, you know ; Lionel Payne’s attraction may have lain in ¢hat.” ‘“* Any way, he is behaving very badly now.” This conversation, its freedom proving that the speakers spoke for their own ears only, reached Tom. He had gone into a box which joined theirs, and overheard it. When he came back to us, a dark frown disfigured his usually pleasant face. ‘The performance came to a close, and we went home, Lionel never having come near our box. Aunt Dinah very soon wished Tom good night, and departed to bed, saying she was tired. Margaret followed her from the room. I was following Margaret, when Tom laid his hand upon my arm, and shut the door. “Stay here a minute or two, Grace,” he said. ‘‘I want to speak to you.” “Yes?” I answered, going back to stand near the bright embers of the decaying fire, my heart beating wildly. “You must be aware that this thing must end, Grace.” I did not ask him what thing. I knew too well. ‘ But how can it?” IT asked. ‘‘ What can be done ?” ‘“Z will see what—with to-morrow’s dawn,” he quickly answered. “IT did not like to act without first speaking to you, my dear.” “It may be just a—glamour, Tom. A craze which has come over him for the moment, and—and will pass away. I cannot see how we are to part.” Tom looked atme. ‘Not see how? Don’t you wish it, Grace? after that spectacle presented to your eyes to-night, and all his recent neglect? Nothing is more easy.” I was thinking of our oath. Turning my head a little from Tom, I told him of it in a whisper. My mood was tragic enough. Tom’s was not. He burst into a laugh. COnniclbooks (CO