The Argosy — page 200: what you’re looking at

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

The Village Blacksmith. 183 ** What do you mean?” ‘That I offered Vera a free pardon and she refused, and has dis- appeared, presumably with my diamonds, and I intend to prosecute her.” Her voice faltered during the last part of this sentence, while her trembling hands and now crimson cheeks told how much she was moved, as she thus threw down the gauntlet and declared “ war to the knife.” She knew that by thus acting she was losing her hold on her husband, and she would fain have kept him on his knees at her feet ; but jealousy was a stronger passion with her than even self-love, so she preferred separating Vera and Captain Raleigh to retaining her husband as her lover. The Archdeacon listened silently to her last speech. He had felt since the last evening that he had been harbouring a snake in his bosom ; now he felt that it had bitten him, and the bite was fatal to his love and a shock to his physical system. He sank wearily into his chair, too much hurt to trust himself to speak, too much afraid of his wife to say what he thought of her conduct, too much astounded to decide at once upon what course he intended to pursue. He did not realise at first that Vera had disappeared. He concluded she had taken his advice and gone out to luncheon, and it was not until his wife reminded him of the fact by asking how he intended to find his daughter that he took in the idea that she was lost. “Vera is no doubt lunching with the Palmers; I will send for her,” he replied. ** Scarcely likely, seeing that all her outdoor things are in her bed- room ; moreover she ordered luncheon to be taken to her room.” ‘Then she is there,” said the Archdeacon. ““Excuse me; the house and garden have been searched and she is not to be found.” The Archdeacon rose to his feet, anxiety for his daughter and re- pugnance to his wife striving for the mastery over him. The former feeling was the more intense, the latter the more insupportable ; and with a look at Mrs. Ryot-Tempest which told her her power over him had gone for ever he said : ‘‘ Have the kindness to leave me alone. I should prefer never to see you again were such a course possible.” And having relieved his soul by this outburst he now turned his attention to Vera, about whom he began to feel very anxious. His wife left him at his request and he rang the bell for the ser- vants, to inquire what had happened in his absence. He then sent to the Palmers to inquire if Vera were there, searching the house him- self in the meantime; and finally he came to the conclusion she must have left home in some clothes Mrs. Ryot-Tempest did not know of and gone either to her Uncle George or to Norah Canter ; so telegrams were at once despatched to them to ask if she were with either of them. CORNICLAOO CS (SO)