The Dugdale Millions — page 129: what you’re looking at

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

A PERVERSE MAIDEN. TIO ‘*‘I had hoped,’’ he said after a while, deliberately and sadly, ‘‘that when the opportunity presented itself, I would be enabled to induce you to tell me wherein I had given you offense. JI am unconscious of having done so. If I have, it was unwittingly done. If any words I may have said to you can be construed into the meaning you have placed upon them, I can only say such meaning was far, far indeed from my intention. Ido not think these things of you. Ihave never thought such things, and there can never be a time when, clothed in my right mind, I could think such things of you. I can make no apology, for I cannot make an apology for somethiag I never did. I can only regret that I have used words that could be construed into such meaning. Even nowI am unable to recall them. I think, however, that I must have given you offense in other ways. If I have, I would like to know how, that I may either explain, defend myself, or apologize if I am in the wrong. Could you but know with what respect and esteem I regard you, you would understand how impossible it is for me to wittingly offend you. Regard! It is acold word, which does not reveal my sentiments. If you could but know—if you would but believe in—the strong, enduring, unconquerable love I bear to you and have always borne to you, you would know that I would see this right arm wither in the fire, before I would utter one word, or do a single act, which would give you 2 moment’s distress.’’ | He held out his arm straight before her, looking over it earnestly into her face. While she, quivering with joy and trembling on the brink of tears, turned her face away to conceal her emotions. He thought her action meant obduracy, and so, let- ting his arm fall slowly to his side, he went on: Pode not heed me Wou are not.celd. Tt 1s I who am unfortunate. But the past cannot be taken from me. The dreams of the days when hope in- Comicbookks 3