The Argosy — page 120: what you’re looking at

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

' The Village Blacksmith. 105 obliged to retire for a while from the garden-parties and other social gatherings she was wont to grace with her presence ; and whether or no Vera was right in her estimation of the grief the loss of her husband brought, Mrs. Jamieson’s forced abstinence from society was a real trial to her. She was a tall, fine, handsome woman, inclining to coarseness as she drew near to her fortieth year, with dark hair and eyes anda rather high colour. She was exceedingly well preserved, and when she chose—and she generally did choose—could be an extremely fascinating woman: always saying the right thing in the right place ; clever without being in the least intellectual; a thorough woman of the world, aiming at popularity, and, as she was rich and agreeable, securing it. Her married life had not been a happy one; but she had married solely for money, so she made the best of it, hoping secretly for better times, when she would not be burdened with an old and gouty husband. She lived in a charming house with delightful grounds, about four miles from the Ryot Tempests, with whom she was on friendly, though not intimate, terms, though she greeted Vera as if she had been her greatest friend on this occasion, She looked very well in her widow’s mourning, which became her exceedingly, toning down as it did her appearance of somewhat exuberant health, and lending an air of interest to what had hitherto been a very common-place existence. She had too much good taste to allude to her visitors’ sorrow, but dwelt largely upon her own loss, in which trial Mr. Ryot Tempest professed deep sympathy, and probably felt it. Vera neither felt nor expressed any sympathy, nor did she for one moment believe Mrs. Jamieson felt aspark of real sorrow for her husband’s death. The visit was not a long one, for Vera, not seeing her way to declining the overtures of friendship Mrs, Jamieson was making without being rude, and not having the faintest intention of responding to them, rose to go at the earliest opportunity. | “[ had no idea she was so handsome,” said Mr. Ryot Tempest as they drove home. 7 “T suppose she is a gentleman’s beauty. I thought her too stout,” said Vera. ‘A very fine figure, my dear Vera, a very fine figure,” said Mr. Tempest, who, like most little men, admired big women. “ And a most charming woman,” he added. “Yes, she is very charming, but she is an arrant humbug,” said Vera, whipping the pony. ‘* Be careful, my dear, please ; the pony won’t bear the whip. And { really wish you would endeavour to check that critical spirit ; such harsh judgments are most uncharitable.” “It may be uncharitable, but I am sure it is true, and truth and charity are not always easy to reconcile with each other. I don't VOL, XLVIL. H COMIC OOO eS) Go im