Octavia's Pride; or, The Missing Witness — page 217: what you’re looking at

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

rors! Seen te 5 fk eed SF PUENTE 97 2G 4 tae ea) Nes i - ’ 7h a op be Fi bd pee ry imag 1 re rn eh ie MINS ER eos ciel as sd ES te lh cj a0 he: “= OCTAVIA’S PRIDE. 207 their sternness, but she flung out her white hands in a de- fiant gesture 7 “Tam not afraid of you, Felix. Ido not care what you suspect or think.” ‘“Tf I could only compel you to love me with one-half the passion which consumes me,” he said, fiercely. She smiled bitterly. How blind these men could be! How easily cajoled by a woman’s art? But the moment after the poor exultation of such a thought died out. A dreamy haze crept into those resplendent eyes. ‘The soft, tender curves came back to those scarlet lips. «There ‘are two natures in me, Felix,” she said, slowly, ‘‘one that you love, and one that you despise. I wonder which will conquer?” “< Who can doubt,” returned Felix, looking at her with a fierce blending of adoration and anger, ‘‘ your pride and am- bition, Miss Wainwright, sweep away all other considera- tions.” She sighed heavily, and then laughed. ** Well, if you are determined upon war, it is a consola- tion to know that I can step aside from the ruin into which you hope to involve me, as well as yourself. My pride and ambition can ask no richer tribute than hes waiting for a beckoning gesture of mine.” ““] know your meaning. I am half persuaded you are right. Yet Ido not forget that the Falkners and Che ters are proud and exacting also.” ‘* Lord Ronald loves me,” said Miss Wainwright, but there was no womanly conscious blush upon her cheeks. ‘“‘His love is like a mountain rill beside a Niagara, in comparison with mine,” said Felix, fiercely. She swept back the luxuriant ripples of fair hair from her broad white temples, and looked into his face wistfully. “Octavia, you are right, you have a dual nature. It is the truest and best that is pleading with you. Your pride ‘eid q ye Vet ay ee Pig ehe: CO ee BYE, Fes Ay) wh ‘} raat Pe Fae Fe , a ted ik to Loe Lape ‘7 ey oP eee oe ey Li ale peeeh ee ? Pr As DAES od aay og wh FO) a AT a Aas oo . aye Bis Bat ea OPO ob et Ee bees ib iy i Po, Bisby HF 454 : ToNee: a3 Pet TR ok det t BGG , Lh, ' th CRG YA: 9 +2 ByVr sy 4 See Ps a*, : 7 . : le Tots a. ** . « , Pwiejt ae ; DOR Ga : 3 wy et i } : ? | ‘ Lon § ¥ . - 4 7 ’ cS comicboo (ele)