The Argosy — page 292: what you’re looking at

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

The Village Blacksmith. 273 her young lady was getting on, for she had not yet heard of Mr. Ryot Tempest’s engagement. That gentleman was by no means in a hurry to communicate the news to his daughter, and, as not infrequently happens in these cases, Vera was one of the last people to hear of it, though one of the most interested. It was nearly three weeks after the engagement had taken place that Mr. Ryot Tempest, urged by Mrs. Jamieson, announced it to his daughter. He would not have done it then, pro- bably, only he had discovered that his fiancée had a will of her own, and he dimly suspected a temper ; and being wise in his generation, of the two ladies he preferred to offend Vera. Having invited the latter into his study one morning, he pro- ceeded to break the news to her; but inwardly trembling, he set to work in a roundabout way. _ “Vera, my dear child, I have been thinking you want a little change ; you are looking pale.” “Yam quite well,” said Vera with a sigh. * Still, I think a change advisable,” persisted the Rector. *I can't leave you alone, papa; it would be very dull for you,” said Vera. Mr. Tempest coughed and coloured and hacked and stammered as he observed : “ I—I, the fact is, I am—lI was thinking of going away myself after Easter, in—in May.” “That is nearly three weeks hence. Where shall we go?” said Vera, who had no objection to a change. “Well, 1 think, my dear, you had better go to your Uncle George.” | “We are not to go together, then ?” asked Vera in surprise. *No. I—no, on the whole, I think not.” “Why, where are you going all alone, papa ?” “Tam not going anywhere alone.” "Who is going with you, then?” asked Vera, her curiosity }@roused, though not a suspicion of the truth had yet entered her mind. Mr. Ryot Tempest did not answer, and Vera suddenly guessing ‘he might be going to visit her mother’s grave, said gently : “Are you going to Avranches, papa? If so, please let me go / with you.” And she moved closer to him and leant her hand on the back of his chair. Mr. Ryot Tempest’s conscience smote him; the allusion to his wife’s grave was in itself painful. Moreover, the girl looked so sweet as she stood by his side, her beautiful face, pale, and just now sad, jturned to his. The news he had to tell would make it paler and Sadder. He felt he must give her pain ; there was no alternative ; so jhe took one of her hands in his and with a great effort, said : } “Vera, my darling——” Then he paused. COnniclooolkks (CO)