The Argosy — page 372: what you’re looking at

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

a ae oe a — | In the Primrose Time. 351 “Tt won’t be the slightest good telling her so,” predicted the butler despondently. “Then say you have given the message to me. J shall know how to dispose of her.” Mrs. Peterson marched determinedly away. The butler looked doubtfully at the library door, and finally departed to his own quarters, letting events slide. Nansie listened and thought awhile. ‘‘She must go,” she decided. “Tf he daren’t tell her so, I will. She shan’t stay here.” Then she boldly crossed the hall and flung the door open. Lady March sat at the writing-table, her chin resting on her clasped hands. She looked handsomer than ever, Nansie thought, her cheeks were so red and her eyes shone so. When she beheld Nansie, they opened wider than ever with anger and contempt. “What are you doing here? Who gave you leave to come and prowl about the house?” she asked wrathfully. Nansie advanced quite steadily. “I have come on anerrand. The man dared not tell you. You are to go.” “What!” She sprang to her feet, her brow thunder, her eyes lightning. ‘What do you say?” ‘You are to go,” repeated Nansie still more emphatically. ‘‘ Mr. Reynholt wants you to go.” ‘He dares send me such a message—and by you—the idiot. And you dared to repeat it!” With a sweeping rush she was on Nansie, and had seized her by the shoulder fiercely, her wrathful eyes flashing, her cheek crimson, her voice choking with rage. Nansie shook like a reed in her furious grasp, and her face blanched with terror, but a wild, savage sense of ‘power rose in her heart. She—S%e, ‘‘ Poor Nansie,” could make this great lady mad with rage! She could never sneer at her for a “harmless idiot” again. ‘They were enemies, and so equals. “Let me alone; I have something for you,” she managed to gasp. The grasp on her shoulder was loosened, and Lady March almost _ flung her from her. “Give it me quickly, you fool.” Nansie brought forth her packet. It was snatched out of her hand. Lady March’s eyes grew suddenly soft, and a complacent smile dawned on her lips. She examined the seal. “If you had dared to break it,” she muttered, threateningly. Then turning her back con- temptuously on the girl, she broke open the packet. Her own letters _ fell to the ground at her feet. Nansie caught the reflection of her face in the mirror above, and _ before she could turn, had opened the door and fled softly away. Next week Sir Francis and Lady March left Broadmeads for the | Continent. It all happened long ago. Who can tell where a story really ends? | To my mind it seems to go on for ever. Nansie laughs and says GomiilGaooks