The Argosy — page 152: what you’re looking at

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

“ Fohn Smith, Funor.” 135 Next morning Mrs. Smith sent for her to come to the boudoir. “T missed you last night, Francie dear,” she began, “but I suppose you came home late and were glad to go to bed.” She had adopted the family pet name at the girl’s own request. She found “ Frances ” too stiff. ‘I had a dear friend once called ‘ Fanny,’ I should like to call you so, if you don’t mind, my dear ?” she said. It happened that ‘‘ Fanny ” was a pet abomination with fastidious Frances ; her colour rose, but a moment after she answered gently : ‘Certainly, if you wish it, Mrs. Smith, but—at home—they call me ‘Francie,’ and I think that is prettier.” Of course it was adopted at once, as nearly all Francie’s ideas were. On this particular morning Mrs. Smith wanted Frances to write a note for her which a manservant was presently to take. ‘The girl sat down to the writing-table, and Mrs. Smith went to give orders for the man to saddle his horse. In a minute or two Jack Smith came sauntering unsuspiciously into the room; seeing the slight figure in its plain black dress bending over her work, he said to himself, “The new companion, I suppose.” Her back was towards him, he could not see her face. She raised her head. Something in the turn of the neck, the rich coils of bright brown hair, seemed familiar; he made a _ hasty movement—she looked round ; then she rose and faced him. ‘Good heavens !—Miss Lisle !—you here ?” “Ves. Oh! don’t you know?” her face was scarlet. ‘‘ Hasn’t your mother told you P—I’m her companion !”’ ! “Never!” All his astonishment was summed up in the one word. She drew nearer. “Yes. My father died, and we were very poor. Then Mrs. Smith took me—she has been so good, so kind. Oh! won’t you forgive me? I was ignorant, stupid, what you will—I have repented bitterly —your mother is fond of me—your father thinks so much of me—I love them both, dearly—don’t tell them, I can’t bear it—spare me that ; let them love me still—Ah !—I think you might forgive me— now ” She bravely tried to keep back the tears that blinded her and nearly choked her utterance. He came forward and took the hands she was holding out to him with such a supplicating gesture. ‘“¢I—almost think there’s nothing—to forgive,” he replied, slowly, as if half dreaming. Then Mrs. Smith came in and they moved quickly apart. “Well, Johnny, my dear, I suppose you haven’t forgotten Miss Lisle? ‘This is the dear young lady whom I have told you about, who is kind enough to come and be a daughter to me. And a very good one she is too, Johnny ; I don’t know what I should do without her. We understand each other, don’t we, Francie ?” The girl turned and kissed her, once—twice—too much moved to utter a word—then passed swiftly out of the room. He would have followed her, but his mother caught him by the arm. ‘One moment, COMICOOoOlKS.E© im