Octavia's Pride; or, The Missing Witness — page 60: what you’re looking at

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

50 | OCTAVIA'S PRIDE. tily into her face. He bit his hip anenilys and there was a hint of his resentment in his voice.’ “Thank you. I perceive your meaning. While I be- lieved that I was sharing your fullest confidence, you have chosen to keep your secrets from me. I mere not Spas known all that was getting ready for the case.’ ‘‘Have you any just cause for complaint, if it were so, though I do not admit that it 1s ?” demanded Octavia Wain- wright, imperiously. ‘‘ You are my father’s secretary, and have certainly received every mark of favor from him. He has been generous in his confidence, and allowed you inti- mate acquaintance with all his affairs. But were you ever chosen as his daughter’s confessor or counselor?” Felix ‘Thorne’s sallow cheek grew deadly pale; he clenched his fingers till the nails cut into the palm of the closed hand hanging by his side; a spark of fier ce anger, and yet pas- sionate love, leaped into his gray eyes. ‘“No,” said he, bitterly, ‘‘never! General Wainwright’s daughter treats me as if I were a brute—a dumb creature, without heart or soul.” ‘<7 have never refused due respect to your ability, your mental superiority over the majority of your class,” an- swered Miss Wainwright, slowly and steadily. ‘‘ When you have kept in your rightful position, | have been both con- fidential and friendly. You know very well what Tt la behavior it is that excites my anger?” «Yes, | know. You think the humble, obscure sec- retary must needs be a stone or a stock; must have no eye for your transcendent grace and beauty; must be blind, and deaf,and dumb. You resent it as an insult if his heart kindles a fierce glow of passionate love for one who is the perfection of all womanly grace in his eyes. You show it to me often enough, and in your wordless way, which stabs more deeply than the most scornful or angry tirade, But comicbooks.co m