Penny Dreadfuls, 1889 · page 115 of 298
A Heart's Bitterness — page 115: what you’re looking at
A restored page from Penny Dreadfuls, 1889. Page through the whole issue in the reader above.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
et RS Ard ls, Tee od el AB cb i oT Oe ea th ee oe aL BY bo ROR GACT ah yd FEI OR. DE ogee so OY, : : ~~ 7 e te ae * * , : . - * A HEART'S BITTERNESS. _ 107. a sweet, quiet home as this, than lord it at the Towers! — Why, why have I lost you?” A noble indignation crimsoned Edna’s face, and anger leaped from her blue eyes. ‘<'These words are an insult to me. Leave me, Lord — Leigh, and never venture into my presence again.” But while they had been speaking the sky had darkened, __ and now the thunder and lightning and flooding rain— which later in the morning swept on the party at the Druid ruins—broke over Rose Lodge. ‘You will not drive me out in the storm, will you?” said Leigh. “No; but I can leave this room to you until the weather permits your departure.” She turned, offended, queenly; but Leigh, in a tempest hoa . - of passion, flung himself at her feet, and seized her white robe in his eager, trembling hands. ‘*Kdna, do not leave me to ruin and despair! Stay where I can see you. Has love no claim? Does grief deserve no pity? Oh, cruel heart, to be deaf to love hke mine!” He forgot how he had coldly scorned and rejected the: equally passionate love of Helen Hope for himself. “‘Listen to me, Lord Leigh,” said Edna. ‘‘ Less than three months the husband of the sweetest of women, your free choice, whose acceptance has saved you from ruin, you dare ‘insult me with protestations of your love! Heaven knows I never expected to fall so low as to hear such a shameful appeal as this! Every word you speak shows me that God was good when He kept me from being your wife. Listen. I shall leave this place, and go where I cannot see you or hear you. My indignation at you is only equaled — by my compassion for your wife. If ever we meet again, it will only be because I see some way of helping and com-. forting her. I have always loved art, and now that I have — an ample fortune from my uncle, and from him a changed name, I shall go and pursue art with all mysoul. Foryou, — Norman, go and repent.” She wrested her garments from his grasp, and, darting < from the room, closed the door behind her. When he heard her fleet foot rnnning up the stair, he — dashed out in the storm, and, drenched and bare-headed, — fled back to the Towers, and locked himself in his own apartment. His rebuffed love consumed him asa frenzy. — P «ff? £ . f Bx d i. “ : 4) ee Sig * i a, os - AM Ye ari y a” : a ti Eae \ Nas" oak M4 ay, a a ?