The Argosy — page 290: what you’re looking at

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

The Missing Rubtes. 27% left a sting behind them. He feels that his love is the shadow that comes between Beatrice and the sun of prosperity.” ‘ A woman does not want to walk alone in the sun,” remarked Harriet, still impatient. ‘If this kind of thing is to go on much longer, I shall write, and say that he is killing the girl.” ‘¢T am sure that he is killing himself,” said her husband, sadly. Coming out of church, Harriet abused the choir and the sermon in a way that would have made Richard Milton smile in happier days. But he understood the trouble that was worrying his good little wife, and sighed. | In the afternoon—that sleepy Sunday time—Beatrice seemed suddenly to rally from her long spell of silent depression. She insisted on getting off the sofa,and making Harriet lie upon it. And then, with gentle force she pushed Mr. Milton into the best of the easy chairs. ‘They looked at her and wondered. But both silently hailed these first signs of returning vitality. “T am better,” she said, answering those earnest looks, ‘‘ My dear, kind friends, your patience has been sorely tried. But new thoughts have come to me now, and I am determined ‘to get back my strength again. Do not think of me any longer as a sick girl ; do not believe that this trouble has spoiled my life. There is a brighter time coming for Godwin and me. _ I feel it—I know it—I will not despair any more.” She went out of the room, and left them astonished and glad. How had this sudden uplifting of the spirit come to pass? Beatrice herself could not have told what mysterious power had raised her out of the gloom that had settled upon her life. She only knew that there was hope and strength coming after sorrow and confusion of heart. And as she passed slowly upstairs the feeling grew stronger. She seemed to be making her way upward to the light. The drawing-room door stood open; Madame Valerot had gone out. But Beatrice did not pause to glance at her cushions and flowers. A strain of sweet music came drifting down from Vorden- berg’s room: and she stopped, and leaned against the banisters to listen, It was the air that she had heard him play when she had first come tothe house. He had never given it any name; it seemed to be the outpouring of his own soul ; a long lament ending in a trium- phant burst of gladness. She waited until the triumph-burst came ; and it filled her with a divine serenity. Peace was coming; the wild storm in her heart was hushed; she was going to be happy again. Vordenberg looked up and saw her standing in his doorway; her deep-blue eyes looking larger and darker than he had ever seen them yet. She was changed slightly; the sweet face was a little thinner, the features seemed sharpened. But her smile had gained a new beauty and gave him a silent greeting. COM () NOOKS (SO)