The Argosy — page 19: what you’re looking at

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

6 The House of Halliwell. ‘Never mind, lad. I am quite certain that three parts of the fatal eases of scarlet fever are caused by the neglect of this preparatory measure. I saved my boy’s life, Major, when he sickened for it ; and I would have saved yours.” ‘“T think a great deal does lie in the treatment,” observed Major Halliwell. “Everything lies in it,” responded Aunt Copp. ‘‘ However, talking over these gloomy things will not make you all brighter. The poor little darlings are in Heaven, better off than they would ever have been here.” ‘Aunt Copp,” whispered Hester, later in the evening, “ will you not tell our fortunes? You know you never would.” ‘“‘ Because, child, I have told some that have come true, and then folk have turned round and blamed me for frightening them.” “JT shall not. I wish. you would tell mine. Do. We ought to have some fun this evening.” “Tf I tell you bad luck, you will not call it fun.” “Oh, yes, I shall.” “You will promise to stand it, without being afraid ? ” **’That I will,” laughed Hester. ** Well, get the cards then. I suppose it is allowable, Major ?” ‘* Allowable! such trash as that! You may tell them all night if you like.” ‘““Tf you can really find amusement in anything so nonsensical,” added Mrs. Halliwell, with an imperceptible curl of the lip. ‘“Do not ridicule too soon,” replied Aunt Copp. ‘“ Shuffle and cut the cards, Hester.” ‘‘ Shuffle well, Hester,” said her brother, as he leaned over Aunt Copp’s chair and laughed. ‘‘ Let us hear what sort of a husband you are to have.” ‘Hallo, Master Alfred,” broke in the Major, with a comical expression of countenance; ‘‘a staunch Churchman, as you are to be, has no business to watch the dealings of the black art. When you come to be ordained, how will you face your bishop, sir?” “Major,” interrupted Mrs. Copp, ‘you will oblige me by not talking.” “Silence all,” cried the Major. ‘Children, we are in the hands of an unknown power.” ‘“ Well,” exclaimed one of them impatiently, as Aunt Copp’s pro- cess appeared to grow rather tedious, ‘‘ what is Hester’s fortune ? ” ‘Hester, child, it is nothing good,” said Aunt Copp. ‘Shall I tell it you P” ‘“Oh, please do,” laughed Hester. ‘“ Well then, child, to begin with, you will not have a husband at all. You'll be pretty near it, but somehow it will slip away, and you'll never marry.” ECONNIELIOO<S, (EC) m