Octavia's Pride; or, The Missing Witness — page 273: what you’re looking at

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

OCTAVIA’S PRIDE. 263 only him. I made him take off Lord Ronald’sring. I con- fessed all my sin and folly. We absolved each other. We said henceforth we would be true, and honest, and be con- tent with the happiness of virtue. Wesaid, both of us, we would have no more to do with the Wainwright estate, ex- cept to hunt for the true heir. We would be poor and happy—oh, so happy, papa! for I love Felix, and Felix loves me. With my mother’s fortune, and what Felix can earn— you know what a genius he has—we can make a pretty home. Papa, papa, only give us your blessing, and leave Wainwright Slope, which was never our right—(oh, papa, you know it as well as I, for I read that letter to you from poor Arthur’s widow)—only come and live with us, and be happy, and it is all your Octavia asks.” She clung to him, weeping softly. Was it his proud, haughty, ambitious Octavia? He could hardly realize it. But, ah! the unutterable relief—to be spared the heart- broken misery he had anticipated ! ‘< Bring me your Felix!” he cried, triumphantly. ‘You know very well I cannot be angry with you or him.” Still she clung, kissing his hands swiftly. ‘But, papa, there is something else. He is more than he seems. He is Felix Thorne Middleton—one of the Mid- dletons of the odious case, you know.” : ‘“ If he were twice a Middleton, I have not a word to say, except of welcome. He saved my daughter’s life, and Octavia loves him.” Now she rose up, jubilant, and yet with a seemly gravity, which remembered that the other lover was following up the avenue, cold and white, as the cruel waves left. him. She went out swiftly, and returned in a moment more, leading Felix. They knelt together before the old veteran, whose blurred eyes could scarcely see them. “‘T am all unworthy such a blessing,” said Felix, hum- bly. ‘‘But I have confessed all my sins. I have cast out cS) €oO comicboo