A Heart's Bitterness — page 179: what you’re looking at

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

A HEART’S BITTERNESS. 171 ‘Because I am resolved that you shall fulfill your old promise, and marry me. You promised, on the cliff in — Cornwall.” “T did not. If I did, I jested. Marry you! Woman, I have a wife.” | “But she has left you. She is either dead, or gone with a lover. In either case you are free. If she has fled, you must divorce her. What matter? You do not love her,” tae fiend, if I am "indifferent to her, I hate, abhor ou! 33 “You call me names; you loathe me; and yet the more I love you,” said Helen, madly. ‘‘ Such love as mine must create love. Oh, Norman, you are free of her! Give me one word of love, of hope.” ‘Helen, you are insane! If I were free—as I am not— ie Sees a wife, you know well where ‘my heart would be aid.” ‘‘ Before Edna Ambrose? ‘T'oo late. She is betrothed to the Marquis of Alwood. He offered himself at the Duchess of Grafton’s ball, ‘Tuesday night. Mrs. Ainslie told me, She saw them ‘in the conservatory together. She said she knew it all.” Leigh rose to his feet, livid with jealous rage. He quiy- ered as in a strong agony. | ‘He shall not have her—never, never! I will ‘* Kill him, too? A second murder?” hissed Helen. “Murder? Woman?” He reeled back from her. ““ Where vs the man that came to you, with fatal proof, in ‘The Earl’s Folly?” said Helen, in a deep, low tone. “That man? He is nothing to me. Where should he “‘ Norman Leigh, you know where he is!” ‘‘ Never, never!” said Lord Leigh, passionately. ‘ J never laid a finger on him, as Heaven is my witness!” ‘¢ Perjurer! false, ‘forsworn—murderer! And yet I love you. I only we stand by you—and help you hide your crime!” «‘'There is no crime to hide,” protested Leigh, cold beads running over his contorted face. ‘© T leave you—I wait,” said Helen, and glided away. She was scarcely gone when Lord Keith came in. He x a GEomicbooks