The Argosy — page 119: what you’re looking at

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

102 The House of Halliwell. “Temporarily!” Calm as was Hester’s general nature, there have been moments in her life when she has been goaded to vehe- mence. This was one of them. ‘‘ Let us not part to-night without an explanation, Mr. Archer,” she broke forth. “Is it me you love, or is it Lady Georgina Seaford ?” The red light from the setting sun was on them, for, in talking, they had moved restlessly to the opening in the trees, and the land- scape lay fullaround, but the warm colour did not equal the glow on his face. Hester saw he loved the Lady Georgina: far more pas- sionately than he had ever loved her. He stood in hesitation, like a guilty coward, and no words would arise at his bidding. ‘Shall I give you back your freedom P” uttered Hester: “I see we’can no longer be anything to each other. I wish, from my heart, we had never been.” ‘“ Hester,” he. exclaimed, suddenly taking both her hands, ‘“ you would be well quit of me. A man with the unstable heart that mine has proved would never bring you happiness. Curse my memory, in future, as you will: I well deserve it.” ‘“ But what do you promise yourself, to have become enthralled with Aer, so immeasurably above you?” was wrung from Hester, in her emotion. ‘‘T promise myself nothing. JI only know that I can live but in her presence, that she is to me in the hght of an angel from Heaven. May it forgive my infatuation !” | “You need forgiveness,” whispered Hester. ‘To indulge a passion for one who will soon be the wife of another.” “Of whom!” fiercely asked the young minister. The glow on his face had faded, and his lips were sostrained that the teeth were seen—he who never showed them. ‘¢ She is to marry Lord Caudour’s son.” “Ah, that’s nothing, if you mean him,” he answered, drawing his breath again. ‘She has told me she dislikes him. And though her father desires the match, he will not force her inclinations.” “Then you wish your freedom back from me?” And poor Hester’s lips, as she asked it were as white as his own. “Pardon my fickleness, Hester! I cannot marry you, loving another.” | “Then I give it you,” she continued, in a sort of wild desperation. ‘‘ May the wife you choose never cause you to regret me.” ‘Thanks, from me, would be like a mockery,” he whispered ; “TI can only hope that you will find your reward. Let us shake hands, Hester, for the last time.” She held out her right hand. And he took it in his, and bent down his forehead upon it, and kept it there. Hester saw his lips move ; she thought he was praying for her welfare. He pray! They walked away in opposite directions ; but soon Hester stopped, and looked after him. He was striding on. He never turned; and, Gomilcbooks:. co m