Sealed Lips — page 260: what you’re looking at

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

252 SEALED LIPS. “More than a year. It was to close his eyes that I made that trip to France. Poor friend!*I was not able to conceal my secret to the end. As he was about to die he discovered it.” The missionary sighed. and his face took on a sad expression. He said, with lowered eyes: “That must have been good, to die discovering the sublime generosity of a friend! Well, my child, has the hour for earthly recompense come for you?” “Yes,” said Patrice, rising. “The one that I love is free. A prince worth his millions has asked her hand in marriage. He is not the one she wants, I am the one. She has written and called me. To be mine she will become poor, but what matters that to her? She also knows how to love?” “Well? asked the priest, with a questioning look. | “Well, mon pere, in a fatal hour, pushed to ex- tremities by the atrocious words of the unfortunate man who is no more, I took an oath; I swore that this woman should never be mine, even if by her husband’s death she became free.” “Ah, poor children! How I pity you from my very soul!” | “Then,” asked the young man, in a gasping tone, ~ falling into a seat, “you think that honor binds me even in death?” “Honor, yes, the sacred religion of an oath. Listen tome. Jf you had sworn to bury your friend in this desert where we are, would you not have 3 COMmicliooks,. Con