The Argosy — page 32: what you’re looking at

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

The House of Halliwell. 1g —perhaps—he may be one of those badly hurt. Oh, aunt! perhaps he may be dying!” Aunt Copp was silent fora minute. “It may be as well to go,” she said. ‘I have no bonnet, but my cap is pretty thick, and the night is warm. Alfred, run and tell your mamma what we have heard.” “T am going to Crummerton,” answered Alfred. “Now that’s just because we are,” irascibly cried Aunt Copp. ‘You know how impatiently your mother is waiting for news. We were to tell her the instant we knew anything.” “T did not know you were going tec Crummerton,” returned Alfred. **T shall go.” “Well, run home first. Your long legs will soon catch us up. When your mother knows, she can do as she likes about following. Tell her the man in the gig did not hear your papa mentioned, so we are hoping he stopped in London.” | It was a starlight night, and Mrs. Copp and Hester walked on without meeting a soul. About a mile beyond Seaford, they met a labouring man, running fast, who stared as he came up to them, but did not stop. ‘Where are you going to?” demanded Aunt Copp. ‘“ What do you want?” ‘“ What’s that to you?” returned the man. “Mind your own business.” “Well, I’m sure!” ejaculated Aunt Copp. ‘‘ You might keep a civil tongue in your head when a lady speaks to you.” “A lady !—Oh!” was the rejoinder. ‘I should say as it’s civil enough for two tramps, as is abroad without their bonnets, at night- time.” | “"Two tramps! Hester, did you hear that? Your papa shall have him put in the stocks to-morrow. Do you know the fellow?” Hester stepped before her aunt. Gurl as she was, agitated as she was, she possessed far more common sense. ‘‘ Wait one instant,” she said to the man; “I think you are John Cooper. You came to make hay this summer at Major Halliwell’s.” ‘What if I did?” he returned. “Tam Miss Halliwell.” The man peered at her in the dusk. ‘“Papa—Major MHalliwell—was coming home to-night on the Harkaway, and an accident has happened to it at Crummerton. We thought you might be running to get assistance for the passengers.” ‘‘ Miss,” said the man, taking off his hat, ‘‘I am sorry to have spoke so, and I ask your pardon. I never thought it could be ladies, and——” ‘That is nothing,” interrupted Hester ; ‘ you could not know us, of course. Were you going to Seaford for assistance ?” ‘I have not heered nothing about it, miss. My wife is took bad to-night, and I was a-running for the parish doctor.” ECOMMICIOOOKS. ECO im