The Argosy — page 381: what you’re looking at

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

The Village Blacksmith. 363 font was an esthetic anachronism, and the flowers had better be put on the altar. ‘*T want to tell Mr. Tempest some news, and to give him my opinion of his marriage,” said Norah, as Mrs. Jamieson closed the church door. ‘Mr. Ryot Tempest will, I am sure, be flattered; and as I am interested in the matter myself, may I ask what you think of it ?” ‘© Do you wish to know my real opinion, ma’am ?” Mrs. Jamieson signified that she did. ‘ Well, I think Master ought to be ashamed of himself at his time of life, and he a grandfather, too. And as for Mrs, Jamieson, whose first husband is hardly cold in his grave, whipping 1s too good for her.” Oh! Mrs. Canter, where are your stops ? ‘TJ am Mrs. Jamieson,” said the bride-elect, with an air intended to crush her opponent utterly. She might as well have tried to crush stones with an air as Mrs. Canter ; she was a woman no one could repress ; a traction-engine alone would have sufficed to crush her. ‘Oh, I knew that, ma’am,” she replied. ‘You asked me my opinion of Mr. Tempest’s marriage; I was not going to alter my opinion or to tell a story because you were the bride.” The woman’s insolence was really sublime. It amused Mrs. Jamie- son though she was the victim of it, and she wisely decided the best course was to treat the matter as a joke. ‘© Come, come, Mrs. Canter; you are Mrs, Canter, I am sure, for no one else could be so impertinent. We won't quarrel ; perhaps you'll be following my example some day.” Mrs. Canter thought of the postman, and gave an indignant snort by way of protest. ‘But, tell me ; what do you mean by Mr. Ryot Tempest being a grandfather? He is nothing of the kind,” continued Mrs. Jamieson. ‘Begging your pardon, Mrs. Jamieson, what I say is true. I was with Master Rex when he was married, and I was with his wife when the baby was born. If it had not been for me there’s no telling what might have happened; but Master don’t know it yet—that’s what I am going to see him about.” Just then Mrs. Jamieson’s carriage, which was waiting for her, drew up at the gate, and as she turned to go to it she asked, casually : “¥ndeed. I don’t think Mr. Ryot Tempest is aware of it. And whom did he marry?” ‘* My niece, Janet Foreman, the blacksmith’s daughter,” said Mrs. Canter coolly, secretly enjoying the sensation her news must create in Mrs. Jamieson’s mind. ‘I don’t believe it,” said that lady angrily. GOL GOOO @ Ss (GO) 5}