The Dugdale Millions — page 170: what you’re looking at

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

160 THE DUGDALE MILLIONS. “ But it is not to be as I wish it. It must be, if at all, as you believe.” “‘T do so believe it.” “iT am grateful,” said Dick, so simply and so sincerely as to touch a responsive chord in Bessie. * But since you had apparently taken offense before those words were uttered, I am justified in believing that only a part of the offense was then given.” He was torturing her with his persistency. He was so determined she could see no way of escape. If his attitude was persistent and determined, he was yet re- spectful and tender. He compelled her admiration by his strong self-control. ‘Why will you be so persistent?’’ she cried out. “ Why will you not see that I don’t want to be driven to confess my own weakness and silliness ?”’ ‘Nothing you can say or docan be weak or silly in my eyes,” he urged. “Well then, if you will,” replied Bessie, abandoning further struggle, “I was offended because you were willing to undertake that search for young Dugdale.” “But you did not want the property?” hesaid. “I never believed you wanted it,1f it were not yours to take. You have shown since the search terminated that you were glad it was not to fall to you.” “ Neither did I. But—but you had—you had pre- tended to be—friendly to me, and it looked as if you didn’t care whether—good or ill came to me.” Wallis was right after all! Her interpretation was the true one. Dick trembled with joy. In these few words was the confession he so much wanted to hear, ‘‘ Whether good or ill came to you?” he repeated, his voice tremulous with suppressed passion. ‘Oh! in my deep love for you, was the incentive for the un- dertaking. I will confess a wrong. Not the one you thought. I feared this inheritance would carry you beyond my reach, and I did not want it to fall to you. i love you so deeply that I could seek to prevent those Comicbooclk C@ 3