The Argosy — page 167: what you’re looking at

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

152 Hester. It seems she does not intend to show her face in this neighbour- hood again. Of course, you won’t be surprised to hear that Talbot’s good father and mother have quite forgiven her, and paid the month’s bills she left owing !” Hester put her hand to her head in dazed bewilderment. Was she dreaming? Had Dora lost her senses ?—Or was it possible— barely possible She took her letter, and without even waiting to coil up the auburn hair, which rippled over her shoulders, rushed to her sister’s room. “Janet! I have heard from Dora. What does she mean? Was the report about Captain Guest untrue? Did he escape ?” ““My dear, there was no need to escape. Luckily for him he was safe at Khartoum on sick leave all the time. Didn’t I tell you? His mother sent you a message. Perhaps I forgot to deliver it. Ah! I remember now ; it was the day Mysie was so ill !” “T heard nothing of it until this moment.”. Then—very low— with down-bent head; ‘‘And Lorette Tracy, Janet, was that tale false, too?” Mrs. Ormsby laughed heartily. ‘“‘Oh! Dora has been telling you the dénouement of that story, had she? It seems her engagement was all a fabrication. Ingenious, wasn’t it? She would never have been found out, either, if her supposed fiancé had not come to life again so opportunely ! Mac did laugh when I told him about it. He always rather admired Mrs. Tracy. Now Hester, help me to think. Had I etter order tapioca or sago for the chicks to-day? JZysze likes sago best} font Faek: Si 9? Domestic details such as these, however, had no power to invade the dream-land where Hester was wandering this morning. She evaded the children, and as soon as she could, hurried away by herselt to carry her joy where she had carried her sorrow: to the lonely shore. The purple sea was sparkling and dancing under the blues of Devon skies ; the white foam was throwing a lace mantle over the lower levels of the jagged rocks, and leaping over higher and higher towards the white quartz pinnacles which crowned them. Nature with strange sympathy had shed a sunshine and brilliance over all the beautiful bay. Hester, well-wrapped, sat long and contentedly under the shelter of a great brown ironstone-giant looking out on the sparkling waters, till a shadow fell upon the book lying so uselessly open on her lap. It was Colonel Ormsby’s daily habit to come and escort her home, and being still but feeble, for her spirits were a-weary, she had been glad of her kind brother-in-law’s strong arm to help her up the cliff. But to-day a new courage braced her limbs. She looked up with a smile, one of her old smiles. ‘“T can do without an arm to-day, Mac,” she was beginning, but the words died on her lips. CORNICLIOOKSs m