The Argosy — page 187: what you’re looking at

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

I7© The Lady’s Con. ‘“ Listen—hsten,” he whispered, grasping her dress again with one hand, while the other lay upon his breast enfolding his treasure. “Will you promise me? You can manage it, if you will. I want you to promise that it shall be buried with me—just where it is now —over my heart.” ‘“‘T promise,” said the young nurse. She was too young to be hardened. ‘Two great tears filled her eyes as she spoke. “Thank you,” he said feebly, sinking back. ‘‘I know you won't forget. Thirty years! Thirty years to-day! ” Once afterwards, as if in sleep, he murmured these last words. © It was a sleep from which, on earth, he never woke. Il. ‘** No, Rose. I will not hear of it. JI am acting for your good. You will thank me for my firmness, some day.” ‘‘Oh, mother, mother! If such a day ever came, I should be a demon! ‘Thank you for parting me from Godfrey? You don’t know him, or you couldn’t talk so.” ‘Whether I know him or not, my dear child, I know that he is ruined.” ‘““And Iam to forsake him because of that? Ruined. No such thing. He has plenty of brains and plenty of strength ; he can work and earn his living like othermen. And I would like to work with him.” ‘“My poor little dreamer! But we have had enough of this. You may see him once more, at the ball to-night, to say good-bye; I will grant you so much ; and then itis at an end.” The lady rose as she spoke; a vision of beauty and of grandeur which far outshone the girlish sweetness of the young daughter weeping at her side. Tall and stately, exquisite in form and feature alike, the advances of time skilfully disguised by arts almost rivalling nature, she looked every inch what she was—a goddess of the fashionable world. Once a distinguished beauty—a beauty still, although the mother of grown-up children—a Marchioness, moreover, married to one of our principal statesmen—she had a right, most people thought, to the cold and majestic pride by which, in private no less than in public, her manners and appearance were characterized. She could smile also; and when she smiled, all hearts were still taken by storm. She had smiled, once, upon the Godfrey of whom her child had spoken. But he was then rich, a fitting match for Rose, to whom she had _ suffered him to engage himself. Now his fortunes were changed: an unex- pected claimant had turned up for his estates; there had been a lawsuit, a cause céleébre, ending unfortunately for Godfrey. He was still a gentleman to the backbone, honourable and true, but minke any more in ‘ Society.” : Gomicbooks.com