A Heart's Bitterness — page 213: what you’re looking at

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

Sd : ee er aie a iT Nad te roe at We a ‘ aN ie ee = eee Rate a i meet lott f y Ske Faia Lae ey Pin "4 ot aint 7 an + Hea > ANE Sha Pe cab We) oe FE CASE Ge ti pd ofl a ee ; ; Herat \ . t¢ ya Fe cet Apt Ae 4" » ‘ - | 1 —— ’ -- anes : : at ‘ ¢ ; i ; A HEART’S BITTERNESS. 205 But the indifference was merely outward; his heart was on fire with jealous fury. Oh, to be able to stop that mar- riage! Qh, to be able to palsy on Alwood’s lips that mar- — riage offer! Oh, to keep the girl he loved and could not possess at least unwed! He could not, he would not see her married to another. He felt that if her wedding-day dawned he could not live to see its setting sun. He saw Edna at assemblies; he took Violet to the opera repeatedly, because Kdna would be in the opposite box; he touched her hand in the dance; he rode beside her carriage in the park, and hour by hour his repressed frenzy grew, until it was veritable madness. Then came the night of Violet’s ball, and Edna was there in tenfold beauty, in a dress of palest naiad-green, embroidered with seed pearls. Admitted queen of beauty, he saw her floating through a waltz in the arms of the Marquis of Alwood. At that sight Satan entered into the heart of Norman, Lord of Leigh. ‘‘ For love is strong as death and jealousy is cruel as the grave.” He felt ready to sacrifice all honor, humanity, manliness, to keep the beautiful and innocent Edna from his rival’s arms. Then a most malign, das- _ tardly plan suggested itself to him, and in the whirlwind of his rage he was carried away to accept it. For a minute the good blood and breeding that had been his, the remnants of manliness, revolted at his vile treachery; but as he hesitated the waltz ended, and the marquis led Edna back to the Lady Burton; but as her hand left his arm, the eyes of the noble young pair met, under the intent gaze of Leigh. | , The marquis looked into the blue orbs of Edna, adora- tion intense, beseeching, and from these lovely eyes an unconscious flame of pure and tender love leaped toward him. | | The marquis surely needed no fuller answer to his suit; that look should have told him—did for the minute—that Edna’s heart was his. Leigh read that much, and his madness culminated. | The marquis passed along toward a window, and stood leaning against it, watching the forming of a new set of dancers on the floor. - Not far from Alwood Colonel Har- tington and Gore were standing. Leigh went over to them, and whispered to Gore: Gomichooks.com yd