A Heart's Bitterness — page 205: what you’re looking at

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

A HEART’S BITTERNESS. 197 Violet returned to the library, and called, through the closed door: ‘Helen! I am here, with Adam Moreland, and you are my prisoner.” “Understand,” said Helen, in a clear voice, “if you — open the door, to give me up for a felony, I shall put this | pe through my heart when you touch the handle of the oor.” | ‘¢ Adam,” said Violet, ‘‘ I cannot have this woman’s death on my-hands. Remember, she has been wronged.” ‘‘ Will you promise not to harm yourself, if we agree to let hes go, Helen?” she asked, through the door. “< Yes.” ‘You will put.that weapon in the drawer and shut the drawer before we open this door—on your oath?” : ‘‘ Yes, on my oath.” ‘But you must be searched for papers, Helen, and take your oath, that you have no papers, and no copies.” Helen was silent. — €*Consider, if you refuse, | am compelled to send for the officers, and give you your choice between arrest for a felony, or death by your own hand, if you insist upon prefer- ring it.” ‘‘T promise,” said Helen. ‘‘ There are no papers that I care for. JI did not find what I wanted.” ‘Can I trust you to keep your word?” asked Violet. “Yes. If I don’t, Adam is there, and he is strong.” ‘¢ Now, then, I open the. door.” | Violet opened the door, and she and Helen stood facing each other. : ‘Victory is yours, Lady Leigh,” said Helen, scorafully. ‘‘ Helen, I have never been unkind to you; why are you my enemy?” said Violet, earnestly. : “You are his wife.” Violet sighed. ‘¢ Your husband has deceived, wronged, mocked, scorned me,” said Helen, hotly, ‘‘and you know the words, ‘ Hell has no fury like a woman scorned.’ ” Violet could not prevent the rising of a heavenly pity in her innocent heart as she looked at the pale, contorted, and passionate face before her; she herself knew so well the pain of wounded love. (ee) Eomicbooks