The Argosy — page 91: what you’re looking at

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

78 Divided. for ever and ever at that triste Camper. It was your doing, for giving me so little liberty—it drove me distracted. And, now, to make such a scene! I dare say I was wrong—foolish. But why did you not write to me; or at least have waited until to-morrow morning P” “Twas in a rage. I hardly knew what I was doing,” said the young man humbly. ‘I have only just arrived in Paris and I did not stop to think. I regret it; I acted like a fool, as usual.” As a matter of fact, he was thoroughly in the nght and Denise much to blame. But as she was a beautiful and wilful young woman who cared absolutely nothing for her husband, whereas he was clumsy and uninteresting and very much in love with his wife, it was easy enough for her to reverse the positions and make him appear to be the offender. His half-apologetic tone encouraged her to ask a question that had been burning on her lips. “You do not really mean what you said about taking me back to Camper to-morrow ?” “Yes. Absolutely.” “But my uncle—my engagement! Impossible! I tell you it is impossible, Raoul,” she cried in consternation. “It is nothing to me what happens to your uncle and. your engagement,” he answered. ‘‘ The one is a blundering idiot; the other had no right ever to be made. I will settle them both.” ‘*You cannot mean it,” said poor Denise, in genuine distress. “Only conceive what a position you will put mein. My uncle will _ never consent to it. J will never consent to it.” ‘Yes, you will. And monsieur, your uncle, too—this very night even. Money will pacify 427 ; do not be afraid. I daresay it is not so impossible to replace you as you seem to imagine.” “TI do dislike you,” cried Denise. ‘I wish with my whole heart that I had never married you.” ‘“‘T know that,” he answered quietly. ‘‘ You have done your best to let me know it—and to make me wish it too.” His face was white, his voice shaken with anger; but not, as she imagined, so much anger with her as with the miserable fate that made him so repugnant to her and the pain of his yearning to be loved as he loved her. They were both very young; both cursed with quick tempers ; both unhappy in their married life. ‘There were all the elements of a matrimonial rupture. They spoke no more until the fiacre drew up before No. 4, Rue du B——. Then, before he opened the door, Raoul made a last attempt at reconciliation. “Ma bien aimée,” he said wistfully, ‘do not be angry with me. Wait until we have talked it over calmly. You know, tout com- prendre c’est tout pardonner. Will you kiss me?” ‘You may kiss me,” said Denise resignedly, after a slight hesita- Gomilcbooks co