The Argosy — page 305: what you’re looking at

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

284 The House of Halliwell. rather than for his; for in a home of poverty the daily crosses and privations fall more heavily upon the wife than the husband.” ‘“'There’s nothing to deliberate upon,” was Mabel’s impatient answer as she escaped from Hester. ‘‘ Mr. Halliwell’s living is plenty to begin upon, and he is sure to get a better one in time.” ‘“Good-night, Miss Halliwell,” said Mrs. Hook to Hester as they gained the town on their return and halted at that lady’s door. “A pleasant day we have had. Excuse me,” she continued, lowering her voice to a whisper, “‘ but if ever there was a ‘Tom Noodle in this world—and he must forgive my saying it—it is your brother, for being taken in by that sly cat of a Mabel Zink.” “JT wish you a good-evening, ma’am,” stiffly said Mrs. Dewisson, when they came in turn to her door, while her daughter offered Hester only one finger to shake; “‘ present my compliments to your brother, and say I wish him joy of his bargain. And I wish Miss Matilda well through her disappointment, for she had set her whole heart and mind upon him. I hope she will not get brain fever.” ‘The same to you,” was the cool reply, when Hester afterwards stopped to say good-night to Mrs. Farley. ‘If everyone was of my mind, Miss Halliwell, they would bring a general action against your brother for breach of promise, and I shall not hesitate to-morrow to avow my opinion publicly. What business had he to accept alk | the presents and the anti-macassars, if he knew he had got his eye on | that deceitful, die-away Mabel Zink? It would be dishonourable | conduct in any man, but it is positive dishonesty in a clergyman.” Hester reached home, glad to be there, and her heart was sore in | many ways. Before dinner-time the following day, notes had arrived | from three-and-twenty ladies, begging to resign all future aid or participation in parish business. In drawing the ink towards him to | write the answers, Mr. Halliwell spilled some over one of the white | netted chair coverings. ‘‘It 1s nothing,” said he, in his dreamy way. | ‘ Put this into cold water, Betty,” exclaimed Hester, running with ) it into the kitchen. And Betty hastened to take it from her, as anxious about it as she was. | ‘You must be careful of these, Alfred,” Hester observed, returning” to the parlour; ‘ you will get no more of them, or of anything else.” ‘“No,” he answered. But there was a quiet smile on his face, as if he had been more awake to the by-play carried on than Hester had given him credit for. ‘No, indeed,” she repeated. ‘‘ When a clergyman makes known to his congregation that he has chosen a wife, let him rest assured he will be troubled with no more anti-macassars.” Mrs. Zink hurried on the wedding, and settled it to take place in August. But Hester did not wait for it; she returned home. (Zo be continued. ) GEomichbooks.co