The Argosy — page 346: what you’re looking at

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

The Mystery of Allan Grale. 325 The smith’s wife was silent. She was wondering whether Miss Palmer had heard what she said about “Cain.” Also, she was still asking herself whether, in the present case, young Vivian’s will would be equal to his prowess. Before they cleared the underwood, and came out in full sight of the Pool, the young man had thrown aside his hat and coat, and was in the water. The child’s body had already risen once, beyond his reach. There was a deathlike silence over the exciting scene. The poor mother had fallen with her face in the grass, unable to watch. The child rose again to the surface, not very far from Edgar’s hand. He struck out boldly. Just as the waters closed over it again, he dived. ‘There was a moment of breathless suspense. He reappeared, grasping the child in one arm, and swimming with the other. A few seconds brought him to the bank. The child was living, but had of course suffered something from its immersion, and was hurried off with its mother to the nearest cottage. The rough matrons were no sooner assured of its well-being than they turned to Edgar Vivian. “The poor body can’t thank you yet, sir,” said one, “ but she'll be up at your house and down at your feet to-morrow. She’s a widow woman, and the child’s all she’s got, and it’s as much as she can do to keep it an’ herself from starving, and she do make a work with te ‘* Aye,” cried another, shrilly, ‘and it’s always the best-watched brats that accidents happen to.” “But please go and get your clothes changed as soon as ever you can, sir,” pleaded the smith’s wife, in her most kindly and civil manner. ‘“I’d urge you to come to our place, but it is scarce ten yards nearer here than the Court is, and I reckon you'll like that better. It’s to be hoped you weren’t heated when you plunged in, sir, for if anything went wrong with you, we’d never forgive our- selves.” Edgar laughed—a gayer laugh than he had given for months. These were the people who had been so ready to fix a blot on his fair fame, if not a rope about his neck! “I am not afraid of cold water,” he said. ‘“ But [ll take care of myself, never fear.” He hurried back to the Court, Agnes and the smith’s wife looking after him. ‘“ May I be forgiven for calling him Cain!” said the woman. ‘I always did say he would never have harmed a fly except in the heat of passion. But he had no more hand in it than my baby. I’m sure of that now. If he had had, he’d never have jumped into that there same pool with a will—and shown the bright clear face to us that he had when he came out. No, no; whoever it might be that did that wicked deed, ’twas not Mr. Edgar Vivian.” This might not be logic, but it was the outburst of genuine faith. CORNICLOOOKS.G