The Argosy — page 383: what you’re looking at

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

The Village Blacksmith. 365 to me about? I was just going to see your brother when you came in. Of course you know he has been taken to the hospital ?” said Mr. Tempest, hoping to divert Mrs. Canter’s mind from his affairs to those of her own. ‘¢¥ didn’t know any such thing, sir. Where is Janet, then? She came home last night,” exclaimed Mrs. Canter, so astonished that Mr. Ryot Tempest’s hope was realised, and she forgot all about the wedding. ‘Janet! I know nothing about her. She has been away from home for months in service, I understood.” ‘‘ Janet came here yesterday to nurse her father. She has been with me all the winter.” “ Dear me! this is very odd. I have heard no mention of Janet. Reuben was found insensible by the canal last night, and taken to the hospital by Mark Brown and two other men.” “Then, Mr. Tempest, as sure as you are a living man something dreadful has happened. Janet must be found, and you must help me to find her,” exclaimed Mrs. Canter. “But Iam very busy. I have not a moment to spare. I am to be married to-morrow.” ‘‘ More shame to you, sir. Your wedding will have to wait till Janet is found: that can easily be postponed. In fact, if it was put off altogether it would be more to your credit, Mr. Tempest.” “ Norah, really you are forgetting yourself strangely,” and Mr. Tempest drew himself up in his cassock and inwardly hoped it lent him an air of dignity to compensate for its Romish tendency. “Not so strangely as you are forgetting your poor wife, Mr. Tempest,” interrupted Norah. “JT really cannot allow this. I—I—I must ask you to leave the vestry unless you remember to whom you are speaking,” said Mr. Tempest, pulling at the sash of his new cassock in his nervousness, “You may ask, but I am not going till I have told you all I have to tell, Mr. Tempest,” returned the irrepressible Mrs. Canter, ** Say what you have to say, then, please, for I have no time to lose.” “No more have I, Mr. Tempest, so I may as well tell you at once. Janet must be found, and you must help me to find her, for she is Master Rex’s wife.” “Janet! Janet Foreman!” almost shrieked the Rector. Janet Tempest, you mean, sir. She was married to Master Rex in my presence last July, and their baby was born five weeks ago. Janet came here with the child last evening, and as sure as I stand here something must have happened. What was Reuben doing by the canal in the middle of the might? What was Mark Brown doing? Where is Janet? Mr. Tempest, we must find her.” But Mr. Ryot Tempest was so dumbfounded by the startling news he had just heard, that he could do nothing but ejaculate “ Janet ! Janet Foreman ! the blacksmith’s daughter !” AOC @ COMM Ss (GO)