The Argosy — page 206: what you’re looking at

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

The Village Blacksmith. 189 ; Tempest felt that whatever else he might be, he was a brave man and a good soldier. “Sir, I love your daughter with my whole heart, but I love my God with my whole soul and my Church with my whole mind ; so we will have no talk of apostacy, if you please,” concluded the Captain, unconsciously parodying a remark of a celebrated Frenchman. JT was only about to say that I should be happy to go into the question with you.” “Thank you; I fear that the result would hardly be satisfactory from your point of view if we did so. Am I then to understand you desire my engagement with your daughter—indeed, our acquaintance—to cease P”’ i | “Tf you please. I regret it sincerely, but my conscience tells me ‘it is the best, indeed, the only course.” _ “Very good, sir. As long as Miss Ryot Tempest remains a minor I bow to your decision, and I give you my word as an officer and a gentleman to hold no communication with her from this \day till her twenty-first birthday, unknown to you. On that happy day I shall, with your daughter's permission, renew my offer, ‘which I trust will then terminate in our marriage. JI may add that \Miss Tempest entirely shares my views and intentions in this jmatter.” | “Sir,” said Mr. Tempest with his most dignified air, which was jsingularly suggestive of a cock-robin, “ the mere fact of attaining her “twenty-first birthday does not, in my opinion, release my daughter ‘irom the obedience she owes her only surviving parent. My objection to her marriage with you will be as strong when she is twenty-one as it is now, and I have no reason to suppose that she will disregard my wishes and commands. So do not allow yourself to be buoyed up with any false hopes.” | | “Thave no fears on that score; but we will discuss the matter further when Vera comes of age. I will now, with your permission, say good-bye to her before I leave, and I trust that though this inter- view has been a very painful one for us both, we are parting on niendly terms.” | | “Captain Raleigh, you have been frank with me and I will be the same with you, and I tell you plainly I shall take every step in my power to hinder your union with my daughter, and that solely on iccount of your religious views.” ‘’ “T understand perfectly, and I wish you good-day,” said Captain Naleigh with a calm assurance that irritated Mr. Tempest, for it warned him he must expect strong opposition from Vera. He sat nwardly shrinking from an interview with her, when the door opened ) snd that young person stood before him pale and determined. | Mr. Ryot Tempest had seen his daughter in a pet ; he had seen her wilful and naughty ; he had seen her wild with grief at the time of _ €r mother’s death, but he had never seen her as she now looked. COMIC OOO SS im