The Argosy — page 106: what you’re looking at

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

CARs eA 1d COTE i FEBRUARY, 1890. THE HOUSE OF HALLIWELL. BY MRS. HENRY WOOD, AUTHOR OF “EAST LYNNE.” CHAPTER IV. HESTER’S ROMANCE. pe years went on, in their quiet cottage, till Alfred was of an age to be ordained. Lucy’s education was well finished, and Mary’s was progressing. Mrs. Pepper they heard from occasionally : she liked much an Oriental life, but two children, born to her, had doth died. The last vacation before taking orders, when Alfred came home he brought a friend to spend it with him. The family had walked to meet the coach, and when it came, and Alfred punpSs off it, a gentleman about his own age followed him. ‘““My friend, George Archer,” he said, *‘ you have heard me speak of him. And you, George, have heard of my sisters. ‘These are two of them, Hester and Lucy.” What a handsome man he was, this stranger! ‘Tall, fair, gentle- -manly; with a low, sweet voice, anda winning manner. He is often in Hester’s mind’s eye, as he looked that day, though so many, many years have now gone by. Is like attracted by like? Rarely. No two persons could be »much less similar than Hesterand George Archer ; and yet they were attracted to one another. Heseemed formed to be one of the orna- ments of the world, she to be of use: she was of slight figure, with a pleasant face and dark hair, but of beauty she had none; he was indeed one of the most attractive of men. Hester thought so then, and now, that she can judge dispassionately, she thinks so still. We ‘must all have our romance in life, and Hester’s had come for her ‘before that vacation was over. . He spoke out at once to Mrs. Hal- ‘hiwell. She had no objection to give Hester to him, provided they would wait; but it seemed to her, she said, that they might have to. wait We VOL. XLIX. G GOMIIGDOG SS) (©)