The Argosy — page 210: what you’re looking at

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

The Village Blacksnuth. 193 dmissible gifts when no engagement existed. Mr. Ryot Tempest llowed Vera to have them, and although he declined to let her write and acknowledge them, he nevertheless promised to do so imself. And he kept his promise. A day or two after Christmas, Mark Brown happened to be in the yost-office when the letters were being stamped, and his quick eye aught sight of one in Reuben’s handwriting, directed to Norah ‘anter. In an instant it flashed into Mark’s mind that Janet was vith her aunt, and the next moment he had decided to ask for a ioliday, and go over to Marling. As he left the post-office, how- aver, it began to snow, and by the next morning the snow was so leep that he knew until the thaw set in he could not be spared rom the Rectory for a whole day; so he was obliged to wait and vatch the weather as patiently as he could. _ The elements apparently were against him, for the snow lasted a nonth, and it was the end of January before Mark could attempt to ‘et to Marling. But he had had plenty of time to lay his plans so vell, that he had now no fear lest they should be thwarted by Vera, vho, if she knew he was going out for the day, might suspect where se was going, and write and warn Janet. Accordingly, it was not till the »ost was in on the day Mark proposed going to Marling, that he asked jis master if he could kindly spare him for the day, as he had had a stter that morning from a sister who was dying and wished to see him. “Where is Mark, papa? I want Firefly saddled at once,” said Vera, about ten o’clock that morning. | “Gone out for the day, my dear, to see his sister who is dying.” _“Aiis sister? Why, he hasn’t a sister ; he is an only child, and a ad one too. Never mind ; the boy and I between us can manage \irefly, I daresay,” returned Vera, who instantly suspected where Mark was gone, and as quickly decided to do her best to prevent yis finding Janet. | She was soon mounted on Firefly, and rode off to Ashchurch to tlegraph to Norah, telling her Mark Brown was on his way to farling; this she discovered for a fact at the station, where she also yund out that it was a nice question which would arrive first, Mark jrown or her telegram. : } It was a Monday, and Monday being no longer washing-day, jwing to the unprecedented obstinacy of the Marling people, Mrs. anter’s time hung heavily on her hands, and on Mondays her and frequently fell heavily on the little Canters, for her temper was }t to be easily ruffled on these occasions. The world was turned }psy-turvy by these good people, whom Norah scornfully designated jols, and the little Canters were turned topsy-turvy by their mother, }ho avenged her wrongs on their innocent little bodies on the lightest provocation, till they wished with all their little hearts ) fey was still washing-day, and the world and themselves allowed , Maintain their normal positions. ~} VOL. xiv. N COMIC OOO SS (CO) im ee ee > = _* Pa eS. Wwe a>.