The Argosy — page 80: what you’re looking at

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

The Missing Rubies. 67 to save, and seeing what manner of woman it was who sought to come between him and his fate, he met her gaze with a grave smile. “You mean well,” he said in a low musical voice. ‘ Don’t think me ungrateful if I tell you to go. As for me, I shall stay where I am.” , * You will not stay.” Some powerful spirit seemed to have taken possession of Beatrice, forcing her to utter determined words. ‘‘ Do you know how near the train is? Come quickly!” Her hands closed round his arm ; he felt their grasp tighten con- vulsively, and a faint colour stole into his wan face. This girl who held him was a lady ; those deep blue eyes, shining steadily upon him, were filled with the light of a true soul; but he was resolved that no power on earth should lure him back to life. He had made up his mind to die, and he would not be turned from his purpose by a woman’s prayers. Yet he could not free himself roughly from those clinging hands. ‘They were ungloved, for Beatrice had been gathering field-flowers ; and as he looked down upon her slim white fingers, certain old memories began to stir in his heart, and all the old pain came back again. “Don’t, child; he said, sadly. ‘‘ Can’t you see that you are spend- ing your little strength in vain? The train zs near. Let me go!” *‘T can hear it.” She shuddered, but clung more closely to his arm. ‘Listen to me—I won’t leave you here to diealone. See how young Iam; yet I have had bitter sorrows, and I am going out into the world to face my fortune, whatever it may be. I don’t care much about living ; life isn’t over sweet, but I shall try to bear it. Won't you bear with your life just a little longer? Won’t you give yourself just one chance more ?” “No,” he said, stubbornly. ‘‘ I’ve exhausted all my powers of en- durance. Let me go, child; you are running a risk in stopping here. Slip down the bank as fast as you can, and forget all about me.” The girl still held him ; her face, white and resolute, looked up into his, and he read in it a determination that was equal to his own. Nearer and nearer came the terrible thunder; but she did not loosen her clasp nor turn her glance aside. One hasty look up the line, and he caught a glimpse of white steam between some distant trees; and then with his left hand he strove to tear the clinging hands away. But he had never realised the strength that comes to a woman in a moment of desperation. Moreover, Beatrice, slight as she seemed, was a country girl, young and full of vigour; and she set her will bravely against his, and clutched him with all her might. The struggle went on in silence ; she had no breath to waste in words ; and mean- while that awful roar was shaking the very ground on which they stood. He made one last effort to throw her off—failed—glanced up again, and saw that the death which he had sought for himself was close upon them both. Long afterwards, when he tried to recall those terrible seconds, he COnnicboooks im