The Argosy — page 367: what you’re looking at

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

348 Verena Fontaine's Rebellion. ‘¢ And, of the three of us, I believe the patient likes young Rymer best—has most confidence in him.” ‘¢ Shall you cure him ?” ‘‘ Well, we do not yet give up hope. If the disease does set in, it will ——” What 2.” ‘Run its course quickly.” ‘An instant yet, Cole,” cried the Squire, stopping the surgeon as he was turning away. ‘‘ You have told us nothing. How does the parish get onP—and the people? How is Letsom?—and Crabb generally ? Tanerton—how is he ?—and Timberdale? Coming here fresh, we are thirsting for news.” Cole laughed. He knew the Pater liked gossip as much as any old woman: and the reader must understand that, as yet, we had not heard any, having reached Crabb Cot late the previous afternoon. “There 1s no particular news, Squire,” said he. ‘‘ Letsom is well; so is Crabb. Herbert Tanerton’s not well. He is in a crusty way over Jack.” ‘‘ He is always in a way over something. Where is Jack ?” ‘¢ Jack’s here, at the Rectory; just come to it. Robert Ashton’s bailiff is about to take a farm on his own account, and Jack came rushing over from Liverpool to apply for the post.” Tod, who had: been too much occupied with his fishing flies to take much heed before, set up a shrill whistle at this. ‘‘ How will the parson like that?” he asked. ‘The parson does not like it at all. Whether he will succeed in preventing it, is another matter,” concluded Cole. And, with that, he made his escape. Close upon the surgeon’s departure, Colonel Letsom came in; he had heard of our arrival. It was a pity, he said, the two brothers should be at variance. Jack wanted the post—he must make a living somehow; and the Rector was in a way over it; not quite mad, but next door to it; Ashton of course not knowing what to do between them. From that subject, he began to speak of the Fontaines, A West Indian planter, one George Bazalgette, had been over on a visit, he said, and had spent Christmas at Maythorn Bank; his object being to induce Verena to accept him as her husband, Verena would not listen to him, and he wasted his eloquence in vain. She made no hesitation in avowing to him that her affections were buried in the grave of Edward Pym. ‘Fontaine told me confidentially in London that he intended she should have Bazalgette,” remarked the Squire. ‘‘ It was the evening we went looking for her at that wax-work place.” ) ‘‘Ay; but Fontaine is changed,” returned the Colonel: “all his old domineering ways are gone out of him. When Bazalgette was over here, he did not attempt even to persuade her: she must take. COPNICMOOOKS, (Eola a]