The Argosy — page 288: what you’re looking at

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

The Story of Charles Strange. 265 who had put on that ring? There was a careworn look on her face as she slept, which lessened her beauty, and two indented lines rose in her forehead, not usual to a girl of twenty; her mouth, slightly open, showed her teeth; and very pretty teeth were Lady Level’s. No, thought Mr. Ravensworth, guilty of that crime she never had been ! Should he arouse her? A coal fell on to the hearth with a rattle, and settled the question, for Lady Level opened her eyes. A moment’s dreamy unconsciousness, and then she started up, her face flushing. “Oh, Arnold, I beg your pardon! I must have dropped asleep. How good of you to come!” With a burst of tears she held out her hands ; it seemed so glad a relief to have a friend there. ‘¢ Arnold, I am so miserable——so frightened! Why did nct papa come down this morning ?” ““ He was ———” Mr. Ravensworth searched for an excuse and did not find one easily. ‘“‘Something kept him in town, and he requested me to come down in his stead, and see ii I could be ot any use to you.” ‘¢ Fave you heard much about it ?” she asked, in a whisper. _ 6 Sanders told me and your father what little he knew. But it appeared most extraordinary to both of us. Sit down, Lady Level,’ he continued, drawing a chair nearer to hers. ‘‘ You look ill and fatigued.” “Tam not ill; unless uncertainty and anxiety can be called illness. Have you dined ?” “Yes ; but your housekeeper insists on hospitality, and will send me up some coffee.” ‘‘Did you ever see so complete a picture as she is? Just like those engravings we admire in the old frames.” ‘Will you describe to me this—the details of the business I came down to hear P” “T am trying to delay it,” she said, with a forced laugh—a laugh that caused Mr. Ravensworth involuntarily to knit his brow, for it spoke of insincerity. ‘I think I will not tell you anything about it until to-morrow morning.” ) ‘‘T must leave again to-night. The last up-train passes bs Oh, but you will stay all night,” she interrupted, nervously. “I cannot be left alone. Mrs. Edwards is preparing a room for you somewhere.” “Well, we will discuss that by-and-by. What is this unpleasant business about Lord Level ?” ‘T don’t know what it is,” she replied. ‘‘ He has been attacked and stabbed. I only know that it nearly frightened me to death.” “ By whom was it done?” “T don’t know,” she repeated. ‘‘ They say the doors and win- dows were all fastened, and that no one could have got in.” Now, strange as it may appear, and firmly impressed as Mr. VOL, XLV. | S cComicbooolks (CO)