The Argosy — page 267: what you’re looking at

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

250 The Missing Rubies. smiles. ‘I have been glad to see her happiness,” he added. “I never saw but one other girl become so radiant under love’s influence. It is a pity to lose one gleam of such rare sunshine. I could never pardon anyone who had deliberately darkened her path.” “Nor I,” responded Harriet, frowning thoughtfully. ‘The dear child is not rich, and I thought that old man’s money might make her comfortable. But I will never counsel her to give up her lover for the sake of Mr. Redburn’s gold. We were all going on very satis- factorily till he came here and disturbed our peace.” It was a quarter past eleven. Mrs. Milton, suddenly remembering that she had wasted a good deal of time that morning, went off to see after her neglected household duties. Vordenberg opened the hall door, and stepped out into the sunshine with his head full of Beatrice. As he paced slowly through Cavendish Square, now cheerful with the foliage of the young summer, he recalled her face as it had looked when she had announced the fact of herengagement. Other fair faces were coming and going around him; but he only saw those intense blue eyes shyly gazing into his—only heard the timid voice that told him of her new-born happiness. Poor child, had she not been afraid of being too happy? He remembered the little song that had saddened her, even in the first throbs of her new joy. Was it possible that those fears of hers were indeed prophetic of parting and pain? Ah, how gladly would he keep every shadow of sorrow away from her young life? What worlds he would have given for some mystic power of controlling her fate, and warding off any influence that was hostile to her peace ! He had promised to be her friend. He had been strangely im- pressed with the belief that his friendship would be precious to her in some time of need. But how could he work for her when she was miles away ? How could he serve her without knowing what service was required of him? If only he had possessed the art of moving her mind at a distance he would have summoned her back at once. She was among strangers, people who could not care for her interests as he would care for them. They would give her no comfort if she suffered ; no help if she wanted aid. Oh, that he could put forth some - mesmeric force and call her back ! For nearly an hour he walked swiftly through the streets, seeing nothing but the pictures that rose before his mental sight. Then, almost mechanically, he turned his steps homeward again, and found himself approaching the house in Wimpole Street. He was only a few paces from the door, when a cab stopped in front of the house. His heart gave a wild leap. Could his prayer be answered ?, Had she returned indeed? But no; there were no boxes ; none of the usual signs of a returning traveller; it was only a momentary foolish hope that had so suddenly stirred him. The driver jumped down and opened the cab-door. For an CONnNIECOOOKS (E©)