The Argosy — page 168: what you’re looking at

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

Hester. 153 ‘The new-comer was even taller and broader than Mac. His mous- tachios bristled fiercely, and he was bronzed by desert suns to the tint of an Arab chief. ‘Mac has sent a deputy to-day, Hester,” he said, smilingly. She remained dumb in trembling surprise, utterly unable even to gasp Out a welcome. But perhaps the hght in her eyes spoke for her, for Talbot Guest threw himself down beside her and seized her hands. “Oh, Hester! You at least might have known me better!” Then, as still she did not speak: ‘‘ Hester!” very wistfully—‘‘ Hester !—I have not changed ....! ‘‘ But I have,” she whispered softly. And in another moment her head lay on his shoulder (they were so safely out of sight), and this bold wooer, whom Lorette had claimed for her own, was holding her against his heart in a clasp which defied a world to take her from him. Colonel Ormsby and his wife walking down to the shore later, met the pair climbing the cliff together, a pretty impersonation of Love’s Young Dream. Hester, who found that she add need support after all, leant on Talbot’s arm, while he, tall, bronzed, and soldier-like, was looking down tenderly into her fair face half hidden by a wind-blown tangle of auburn curls. She had been telling shyly, with hushed breath, of the Vza Dolorosa her feet had so lately trodden, and listen- ing with pitiful tears in her sweet eyes to his tale of the dangers he had passed, and of the short, sharp, merciful illness which had been a blessing in disguise. Mrs. Ormsby looked at her husband significantly. Hester’s brother-in-law gave an expressive whistle, and began to hum under his breath: “‘ OA / there’s nothing half so sweet tn life...” Both guessed what had happened and were ready with their good wishes. But the warmest congratulations came from Guestwycke, where John Guest and his good wife soon had the joy of welcoming a daughter-in-law after their own heart. We may be sure that the flowers bloomed brightly, and the place wore its gayest aspect for this visitor who came to take up her abode there for good and all. “Tt is what we always wished, Hester,” said Mrs. Guest, her bright old eyes shining with happiness. ‘I never could take to that Mrs. Tracy, even before she turned out an impostor.” “Hush! my dear!” reproved her husband, gently. ‘‘ Hester knows how much we love her,” taking his new daughter’s hand in his, and patting it affectionately ; “‘and I think that there need be no ill- feeling !” COMICOOOKS (SO)