The Argosy — page 96: what you’re looking at

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

mn rt ARGON Y. AUGUST, 16588. THE STORY OF CHARLES STRANGE. BY MRS. HENRY WOOD, AUTHOR OF ‘ EAST LYNNE,” Creel Pit E Rav xX gak PROWLING ABOUT, O the blow had fallen. What we were dreading had come to pass, Tom Heriot was back again. I sat half-paralysed with terror. Leah stood before me on the hearthrug, pouring out her unwelcome disclosure with eager words now that her first emotion had subsided. She went on with her tale more coherently, but in undertones. “ After you had gone out this evening, Mr. Charles, I was in the kitchen, when one of those small handfuls of gravel I dread to hear rattled against the window. ‘Nancy,’ I groaned, my heart failing me. I could not go to the door, lest Watts should come up and see me, for I expected him back every minute; and, sure enough, just then I heard his ring. I gave him the Zaw Zzmes, as you bade me, sir, telling him he was to take it round to Mr. Lake at once. When he was gone I ran up to the door and looked about, and saw Nancy in the shadow of the opposite house, where she mostly stands when waiting forme. I could not speak to her then, but told her I would try and come out presently. Her eldest boy, strolling away with others at play, had been run over by a cab somewhere in Lambeth ; he was thought to be dying; and Nancy had come begging and praying me with tears to go with her to see him.” | ‘And you went, I suppose, Leah. Goon.” ‘You know her dreadful life, Mr. Charles, its sorrows and its misery ; how could I find it in my heart to deny her? When Watts came back from Mr. Lake’s, I had my bonnet and shawl on. ‘What, going out?’ said he, in surprise, and rather crossly—for I had promised him a game at cribbage. ‘ Well,’ I answered, ‘I’ve just remembered that I have to fetch those curtains home to-night that went to be dyed; and I must hasten or the shop may be shut VOL. XLVI, G COMIC OOO SS (C(O)