The Argosy — page 203: what you’re looking at

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

186 The Village Blacksmith. ‘Captain Raleigh.” Mrs. Jamieson started _ turned a shade or two paler as she repeated : “Raleigh? Jack Raleigh ? One of the Norfolk Raleighs ?” “The same. Do you know him?” — Well. So well that I am amazed to hear he has been in this neighbourhood some days without paying mea visit. I knew him before I married.” She did not add that she, though Captain Raleigh’s senior by seven or eight years, had flirted with him mercilessly, and then, luckily for — him, had thrown him aside for the wealthier Mr. Jamieson. But while — Mr. Tempest was uttering some commonplaces about the smallness [ of the world, Mrs. Jamieson was debating inwardly whether she — should cry check to Vera’s king or allow the game to go on a little longer. In the end, the temptation to interfere at once proved too — strong for her. Much as she wished Vera to marry and relieve — her of the duties of a step-mother, for which she felt she had no vocation, she could not bear to see herself supplanted in the affec- ‘ — tions of an old lover by a mere child, as she scornfully denominated © Vera. So she resolved to speak. ft ‘“ Of course you know Captain Raleigh is a Romanist ?” she re- ) marked in her sweetest tones. a “Indeed I know nothing of the kind. Surely you must be mis- taken ?” mt ‘T fear not. His branch of the Raleighs are all Romanists, and always have been.” _ ‘“Dear me, dear me! this is terrible news! I had no idea of ite 9 Of course that will put an end to the matter at once. Nothing would | induce me to allow Vera to marry a Catholic. It might seriously | affect my position in the county, and it would certainly defeat all my — i hopes of obtaining any valuable preferment. Moreover, my con- | science really would not allow me to countenance such a thing for a moment, though I fear you will think me very inconsistent to j — say so.’ “Not at all. One sees things so differently when one is young. ; And though I was able to resist the very same temptation when I was a girl, I can so completely sympathise with the sacrifice of worldly by prospects you so generously made. May I say I admire you SO | much for it?” | i = Mrs. Jamieson was treading on dangerous ground, and she knew | ; but nothing venture nothing have; so to accent her speech she | laid one white little hand gently on Mr. Tempest’s arm just fora | few seconds. i He coughed and coloured, and made a little deprecating gee | | as he answered nervously : ‘Thanks, my dear friend. And what would you advise me to do | in this matter? ” Comichbooks.com