A Heart's Bitterness — page 157: what you’re looking at

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

A HEART'S BITTERNESS, 149 one woman would die for you—finds heaven only in your presence?” ““I came—I am curious, Helen, to know your open- sesame to such select circles as this and the rout at Mrs. Ainslie’s. Have you, too, inherited a fortune, and become a lady of fashion ?” “As Edna has? If I had, remember, yours would be the eye in these gay scenes that my look would seek, yours would be the one voice I should hear. I should not pass you as she does, with that cold, calm smile, and mock you with my lovers. I cannot tell you how I came here. I came to tell you that I am always true, and in loneliness you can turn to me.” “* But why consider me lonely?” ‘‘Il know things that you do not. Edna is preparing to © mary. In afew months she will have secured a title, as she has always schemed to do. And in that few months you will be a widower.” ‘Leigh started. What are you saying, girl?” . ‘“‘ Blind creature! do you not see that your wife is fading before your eyes? ‘The new year’s snows will not find her here. Then, Norman, you will be free! ‘Then you will turn to me? Remember my faith, my adoration; that I of all women love you most—would live to please your slightest whim. Tell me when you are free, will you marry me?” . | ‘“ No, I will not,” said Leigh, shaking off her hand from his arm and muttering an oath. ‘‘I don’t believe what you say. My wife is well enough, well as ever she was. And if it did happen that she died, and I could not get the one being in all the world that I care for—HKdna—then make up your mind J will marry in my own rank, and have an heir who has no blot on his ancestry.” Helen turned and hid her face in the thick fronds of a fern, and moaned a desolate, wild moan of a wounded creature hiding to die!” | “’Oh, Norman, Norman!” ? «Took you, girl! I believe, on my life, if I even hinted that I would marry you in the event I was left free, that you are quite equal to poisoning my poor little countess. I may be a bad man—I am; but Heaven knows there are some depths in your nature far lower than I find in mine.” — a Me Ge ae x , pa ae fee ei ee Le te ee Se Pe! ea ee” ne oe SES Pe + - reoy Eomicbooks |