The Argosy — page 30: what you’re looking at

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

The Village Blacksmith. 17 daughter? A better father never lived than you have been to Janet. I can’t think how she could have deceived you as she did; so I have told both her and my brother,” said Vera severely. ‘Miss Vera, there is not a greater sinner livingthan Iam. If you knew how deeply I have sinned you would never speak to me again, though I saved your life,” said Reuben, trying to make up his mind to tell Vera of the burden which lay so heavily on his conscience. “ Do you know, Reuben, I don’t think you ought to brood over your sins like this. We are all wicked, but I can’t see that thinking of nothing but our wickedness will make us good. If I were you, I should tidy up this wilderness of a garden a little. I am sure that would be a much healthier occupation than thinking so much about your sins.” “Tt is a wilderness, indeed, but I have not had the heart to do a stroke in it. Miss Vera, do you happen to know where—where Janet—where Janet’s baby is buried?” said Reuben, his voice trembling with agitation. “T don’t know where exactly, but in Liverpool somewhere,” said Vera. | “In Liverpool !” exclaimed Reuben. ‘Why, yes; it died there, you know, on the day Janet was to have sailed. I believe they had a stupid doctor, for the baby was quite | well when Janet left Ashchurch on my father’s wedding-day. She was not fit to travel herself, though, and Norah says if she had only rested a few days the baby would have been alive now. She declares it was all my step-mother’s fault for bustling Janet off when she was only fit to be in bed. But, Reuben, don’t, please don’t! I am sure you are very ill,” said Vera, interrupting herself as Reuben sank on to the garden seat, and buried his face in his hands, The relief at finding his own conduct was not the immediate cause of the child’s death was so great that the blacksmith, weakened by illness, could not bear it, and tears of joy and thankfulness ran down his cheeks. The mastiff was at a loss to understand the scene, and poked his nose against Reuben’s great sinewy hands to inquire into the matter and express his sympathy. He did so to Vera’s great relief, for she was at a loss to know what to do; and the dog solved the problem: as animals sometimes do when human beings are at fault. Reuben recovered himself presently, and played with Lion to cover his emotion until he was able to speak ; and Vera, seeing the tears had done him no harm, thought it would be a propitious moment to give him Janet’s letter. It was an affectionate letter, begging Reuben to forgive her for deceiving him as she had done, and explaining why Rex had insisted on her silence. The letter then said where Janet had found the baby, and how she guessed her father, in his delirium, had taken the child. It concluded with an account of its illness and death, which the writer supposed was a judgment on her for her clandestine marriage. VOL. XLVIII. C conicaooKks (S©) mm