The Argosy — page 302: what you’re looking at

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

, The Village Blacksnuth. 283 trouble ; and it is lucky for you I could not, or you would be lying in the mill-pool. It is a very dangerous habit is sleep-walking,” said Reuben, as they hastened up the drive. *T know it is, but don’t tell anyone, please, Reuben; I have not done it for so long, and I daresay I shall never do it again. It was all Rex’s letter, and not knowing what I ought to do about it. Is Janet home?” said Vera, abruptly. “Ves, Miss Vera,” replied Reuben. ‘Then you know about her ?” said Vera, interrogatively. “T know she is not fit to speak to you, Miss Vera, and that she has broken her father’s heart,” said the blacksmith, slowly and sadly, “What, Janet? Why, Reuben, she is my sister, she is Rex’s wife, you know. He married her before he went away, in London, from Norah’s house.” “What? Mr. Rex’s wife. My Janet Mr. Rex’s wife? Say it again, Miss Vera; for the love of Heaven say it again!” And to Vera’s amazement, Reuben flung himself on his knees at her feet, and held his clasped hands up to her in an agony of mingled joy and penitence. “Reuben, get up; you are very ill, I am sure. It is all true that I tell you, but we must keep it a secret for a few days longer; to-morrow I will come and tell youwhy. Janet is Rex’s wife; Norah | knows all about it. And now go home, Reuben, and go to bed. Iam quite awake now and quite safe. I shall get in quietly without waking anyone, and no one but you will be the wiser for this night’s adventure. Good-night, Reuben. [ shall not forget you saved my life, but you must not come a step further with me. Promise me you will go home quickly ; I am sure you ought not to “You are right there, Miss Vera; I will go. God bless you for } what you have told me.” And Reuben, who scarcely knew what he | was doing, turned away, while Vera, gathering her trailing skirt up, ran } swiftly into the house. Reuben only walked a few steps, and then in an agony of shame, remorse, joy, and gratitude, he threw himself face forward full length On the damp grass, and wept and prayed aloud. His feelings were so complex that he could not analyse them. Perhaps the one con- sistent thought which ran through them was that he came out to | destroy a life, and by God’s great mercy he had been permitted to save one. God’s hand was upon him, but in love not in anger; it was the weight of His love and His mercy that stretched the black- smith at His feet and crushed him down in penitence to the earth. His mercy was more than he could bear. Humbled to the very dust, Reuben saw himself for the first time in his life as he really was: not the righteous man he thought himself, not the zealous searcher } after other men’s souls, not the pillar of the chapel, but a weak, sinful CONnnICLOOKS (CO)