The Argosy — page 297: what you’re looking at

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

278 The Village Blacksmith. She said truly when she said she was tired ; but she was sick at heart also. Her father was ill she could see, and she longed to teli him everything, and ask his forgiveness for the way in which she had deceived him. But this she dared not do for Rex’s sake, so she took the baby upstairs and put it into her own little bed, which, ill as he was, Reuben had made for her : a little sign of affection which pierced poor Janet’s penitent heart like a sword, and it was with difficulty that she gulped down her tears. <A very brief glance sufficed to show Janet it was more than time she returned home, for although Reuben paid a neighbour to clean the cottage once or twice a week, many things were neglected, and there was no suggestion of those little home comforts which only a loving woman can supply. Tired as she was, Janet soon had a bowl of hot gruel ready for her father, and made his bed and room more comfortable before she got some supper for herself. Then she offered to sit up with him, meaning to pay stolen visits to her baby when Reuben was asleep. But this the blacksmith would not hear of; he was not ill enough, Indeed, he declared Janet’s return had already done him good, and. he had little doubt he would be able to go to the forge again in ; day or two. Accordingly, Janet went to bed, and very glad she was to gel there; not only because of her fatigue, but also because there was far fess risk of the baby crying if she were with it; and by elever o’clock the little household was fast asleep. Reuben was restless and woke before midnight feeling hot and feverish. He tossec about from side to side, when suddenly the wail of an infant i the room overhead broke the stillness of the night, and roused ¢ terrible fear in the blacksmith’s mind. Reuben started up in beg and listened intently. Yes, there was no doubt about it. Onet again he heard that feeble cry which this time died away, eva soothed by Janet. | A cold sweat stood on Reuben’s brow as he listened acutely fo a repetition of that terrible wail. Terrible because it told him hi name was dishonoured, Janet’s fair fame tarnished, the pride ani joy of his life laid low in the dust, his spotless lily broken off fron the parent plant, kissing the earth, his daughter—-— But hush! a even in the delirium of his anger, in the first shock of the me grief that infant’s cry brought to his heart, dared: Reuben apply th worst which rose to his lips to Janet. It was impossible; he mus have been dreaming ; ; he would try and ¢> to sleep and forget if, an in the morning he and Janet would laugh over it. | Alas! in the morning neither he nor Janet laughed. But slee. Reuben could not; that cry still rang in his ears. Again and agail though all was now silent as the grave, that cry told him his hea. was broken. He had made no mistake ; it was no delirium, no drean no vision of the night ; it was stern, sober fact ; a wicked fact, a cru fact, a cursed fact. Sin had knocked at the door of his house, 4 CONNIELIOO KSareoy ania