A Heart's Bitterness — page 256: what you’re looking at

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

248 A HEART’S BITTERNESS. to Mr. Storms, and gave him a small yellow envelope. Mr. _ Storms read the dispatch. Tord Leigh refusesto prosecute, and requests the dis- charge of the prisoners,” he whispered to the magistrate. «The man is subject to attacks of aberration, and no doubt the forgery is a result of such mental disturbance. We will post him back to his sheep-farm. No question but he is tired of London.” ‘‘The prisoners may be dismissed; there is no charge,’ said the magistrate. The box was opened. Kemp and Helen in silence passed from the dark arches of the Old Bailey to the sunny street. Silently they turned upon Ludgate Hill, and through St. Paul’s church-yard, and into the great Cathedral of St. Paul. A few people were wandering about, looking at the monuments of Hng- land’s illustrious dead. Under the mighty dome these two unhappy ones seemed lost and alone. ‘’hey sat down on a low bench. _ ** Helen,” said Kemp, “I love you. Ihave doneall that I could to satisfy you. I know you do not care for me; but come with me; be my wife; I will make you rich; I will be your servant, your slave, live only for you. In Australia let us forget this cruel, hateful England.” : | Helen heard, as in a dream, the voice of Kemp. For her all possibilities of life in England seemed ended. Hope, passion, emotion, were dead within her. She hardly heeded his words, as, gathering courage from her silence, he went _ on to depict life in Australia, and to tell her what he would 3 - there do for her. _ ** We can get a marriage license,” he said. ‘I have lived over a fortnight in one London parish, and that is residence. I will get it to-day. Let us be married in a week. This is _ Wednesday; let it be next Wednesday. Let us each cast a miserable past behind us, and go to better things. Will _ you, Helen?” She bowed, in a dull, cold stupor. ‘* And will you have some money?” said Kemp, to whom _ plenty of money was the greatest good. ‘‘I will give you a blank check, and you shall fill it out, if it is for half I pos- sess. Dress yourself like a queen, if you will, Helen.” She looked at him in a bewildered way. Why did this man love her so. frantically, while the man she adored (E(0) Gomichbooks