The Argosy — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

Leet oe A cRR.-G@ .O S-Y, TUERY? 2A60. SHE VILLAGE BLACKSMATH. BY DARLEY DALE, AUTHOR OF “FAIR MARGARET,” CHAPTER XIx. MR. RYOT-TEMPEST DRAWS THE LINE, M*® RYOT-TEMPEST was exceedingly particular about his letters ; he could not bear anyone to see even the outsides of his own, though he carefully examined the post-marks of everyone else’s. He had a post-bag at Woodford, of course, and it had been one of the minor trials of his life since the parcels post had been introduced, that he had been obliged to submit to the separate delivery of all parcels too large to be accommodated in the post-bag. On his return from his honeymoon almost his first action was to go to the post-office and give directions that for the future all large yarcels should be delivered ina large basket which had been received there, and freely commented on, a few days before. Much specula- tion as to its probable use had exercised the postmistress, who took as kind and deep an interest in the letters, post-cards and telegrams which passed through her hands as country postmistresses usually do. This basket was duly provided with a padlock and two keys, one of which Mr. Ryot-Tempest handed to the postmistress, and one he carefully fastened on his own private bunch. ‘You'll be wanting an extra key for the post-bag now, sir, won’t you?” asked the woman, who was anxious to discover on whose behalf this basket was introduced. “No,” said Mr. Ryot-Tempest briefly ; ‘‘ but be careful that all the letters are sent in it. And when there are parcels send word, and my man shall call for the basket.” To explain why these precautions were taken, we must return with Mr. Ryot-Tempest to Paris after that brief interruption to the con- nubial bliss of his honeymoon. His welcome was as warm as he could wish, and it was a flattering VOL, XLVIII. B GOMIIGaoOo s) (S©)