The Argosy — page 144: what you’re looking at

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

“ Fohn Smith, Fumor.”’ 127 “Are you ill?” she asked breathlessly. “Oh, what is the matter ? ” ‘‘Nothing—nothing !” he replied, huskily, ‘‘ the place is so hot and stuffy! Shall we return to Mrs. Lisle and your sister ?” Easier said than done; nowhere could they be found. Frances sat down in the vestibule, while her companion searched the rooms. Just as he returned with the information that they were certainly not there, his friend came rushing up the staircase and sought for re- admittance at the turnstiles. “Oh, Miss Lisle,” he began, ‘‘I have just seen your mother and sister home. Mrs. Lisle turned very faint and I was obliged to get her out. We knew you were all nght. The cab is still at the door ; will you allow me to take you back also ?” “That is not necessary,” Frances replied. ‘‘ Poor mamma! she was over-tired. ‘Thank you very much for looking after her.” The two young men accompanied her to the entrance, where the same offer of escort was again made and declined. There had been a lurking hope in the girl’s mind that the other would volunteer his | company: she was disappointed ; he said hardly a word, and raised his hat as the cab drove away without again meeting her eyes. ‘““] suppose he 1s offended,” she said to herself. ‘‘ Well, I can’t help it. After all it is better he should know the truth. I do hate all those Smiths, and could never tolerate so close an intimacy, 1f—! Poor, dear mamma !—I hope it is nothing serious.” Her fears on this head were soon set at rest by Edith, who met her in the hall. “Oh, here you are, Francie. I hope you weren’t frightened. Mamma is all right now, it was only the heat; but Mr. Josselyn thought we had better get home at once ——” “Mr. Josselyn!” said Frances, “‘ how stupid you are, Edith. You mean 2 ““J mean Mr. Josselyn, of course,” Edith returned, rather indig- nantly ; ‘it is you who are stupid, Frances ” She stopped abruptly, for her sister had grasped her arm and was gazing at her with pale face and wide-staring eyes. ‘‘ What on earth is the matter, Francie ? are you ill? I'll call papa ——” “Stop!” cried Frances, making a great effort to regain her self- possession, ‘‘call no one—tell me again—the one who was with you, the short one—is— ?” | “Is Mr. Josselyn, of course, Francie. Are you out of your mind ?” ‘And the other ee “Ts John Smith, Junior—you must know that. Oh, Francie! you frighten me! What has happened ?” ‘“‘ Nothing—only I have made a mistake, an awful mistake She was almost voiceless with horror, and her heart beat nearly to suffocation ; she clutched at the frightened girl again. ‘‘ Tell no one, Edith, do you hear? I.forbid you to mention a word to mamma—or d) COMM ) NOOKS (C(O)