A Heart's Bitterness — page 106: what you’re looking at

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

eon Teh . # ee VY Ps oe a et rot ay an > : “Tw Oe a ae aoe et ens > a 4 : = ae I+ ~ . a en a fe Roe Sarr ahnuge A HEART’S BITTERNESS. flushed, dimpled cheek; the brown rings of her hair were damp with the dews of slumber; her pretty, pathetic mouth, e curved now for a smile, now for a sigh. Edna, looking at her child-like beauty, longed to gather her to her heart and implore her to be happy. She felt singularly drawn to this helpless lovely creature. Surely they could be friends, and she could help her in her peril- ous, thorny way. But a cloud moved across the face of the dreaming Vio- let; her red lips quivered. _ ‘«“You don’t love me,” she sobbed. ‘* You never loved me!” Edna drew back. She could not, a stranger, intrude on the unconscious revelations. Then Violet’s hands were held out, as if searching for help, and she cried: ‘<T dare not see you—I love you too well, my But Edna had stepped hastily beyond hearing of those murmurs. She did not wish to know of Violet more than the girl-wife voluntarily told her. As she withdrew into the wood, Kate, who had been for work, or a book, hastily returned, and her rushing step roused her mistress. , Miss Ambrose feeling that Kate’s presence would disturb the freedom of the interview she desired with Violet, with- drew, determined to find the little countess next day. But not tho next day, nor for months after, did those two meet. During these months Edna carried in her heart a memory of the pretty young creature, tossing, and murmur- ing of her troubles, in her sleep. In spite of the fears of Violet, and of old Adam, Lord Leigh returned home safely, after two days, bringing with him Mrs. Ainslie and four of her girls, theireplans for a lengthened stay on the Continent having been abandoned in fear of an epidemic in Italy. Violet had feared that vexation at her refusal to receive Miss Ambrose might drive Norman back to his gaming- table, and she received him in the relief of her feelings with considerable affection. ‘‘I knew you would-be a model couple,” said Mrs. Ains- . lie, beaming her joy, as Violet ran to embrace Lord Leigh. Neither of them guessed that a fair face in a glory of golden hair, the hope of hearing the melodious tones of a voice that had once spoken in love to him, of clasping a - hand which voluntarily he had resigned, had brought Lord I3° cComicbooks:eom