The Argosy — page 188: what you’re looking at

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

The Missing Rubtes. 173 “Your happiness! By George, Beatrice, this is too much for any man to stand! Your happiness, indeed! Do you think you are going to be made happy by marrying a rascal? Do you think I will look on and see poor Ward’s daughter fling herself away on a thief? Do you suppose —— ” “Stop!” she said, her clear young voice ringing out imperiously above his thick, angry tones. ‘‘ Stop, 1f you don’t wish me to forget the respect due to my father’s old friend.” She was as white as marble. Her deep-blue eyes, heavily fringed with dark-brown lashes, shone out strangely. ‘There was such a queenliness in her look and tone that for an instant the old tyrant was cowed before her. But only for an instant. His wrath burst out again, all the hotter for that momentary repression. ‘How dare you, you insolent child!” he shouted. ‘‘If your father were here at this moment, he would order you away to your room and lock you up till you would listen to reason. But you shan’t ruin yourself if I can help it. You shall hear all that there is to be said about that scoundrel, who has deluded you with his lying tales.” He stopped, not for want of words, but for want of breath. She took advantage of the pause to speak, quietly and coldly. * Mr. Redburn, I am not ungrateful for your kind intentions. But let me say now, once for all, that it will be best for you to forget my very existence. Let us tread separate ways. If we meet often, we shall only irritate each other. You cannot reasonably expect to order my life after such a short acquaintance.” ‘“That’s true,” he answered, with unexpected calmness. ‘TI ought to have come home sooner to have looked after poor Ward’s child. It serves me right if she gives herself airs. Now, look here, Beatrice. I’m ready to have patience with you. Sut you musn’t fly into a rage when I say that these Milton people are awfully to blame. They let you engage yourself to the first man who was caught by your pretty face. What did they know of this fellow Earle?” ‘He was introduced to them by Mr. Milton’s oldest friend—a Mr. Corder. Mr. Corder’s son married a Miss Earle,” replied Beatrice, with cold distinctness. ‘Oh, indeed. And did the Miltons ever hear the story of the Countess Gradizoff’s ruby necklace ?” “No. But Godwin Earle told the whole story, first to Mr. Corder and afterwards to me.” , “You poor deluded baby! He told the tale after his own fashion. As Alma Lindrick says, you have heard only one side.” ‘“ Mr. Redburn, let me say again that it will be best for us to part,” said the girl, struggling hard for composure. ‘Do not let us talk about this matter any more. To the last day of my life, I shal) believe in Godwin’s innocence, whether that innocence is proved not. Nothing will ever change me.” COM () NOOKS an