Should She Have Left Him? — page 44: what you’re looking at

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

38 SHOULD SHE HAVE LEFT HIM? “And consequently, the ceremony of your mar- riage to Mr. Trescotte is invalid—as if it had not taken place. You have no right to the name of Trescotte.” “That is the view of the law?” asked Dorothy. “Of the law,” he acquiesced ; “and, as you will find, of society, using that term as you best know al | Society! The word summoned up the vision of her mother. “That being the case,” continued Magrane, “ you. are not the wife of Henry Trescotte, and cannot remain with him, without serious results to your own reputation—without loss of your own place in society.” Dorothy did not seem to be as much affected by this statement as Magrane had expected. “Ts it not lost already ?”’ she asked. Somewhat startled out of his self-complacency on finding how well she realized her position, the lawyer hesitated before replying. “Tt certainly has been changed.” “ Lost!’ she said imperatively. “Isitnot? You say you speak of my position. Be frank. Society —the world in which I have always moved—is cruel to women. It forgives mistakes before it does misfortunes. Though I am_ blameless—will the world accept me?” “T think,” said Magrane evasively, ‘“ your world will sympathize with you.” “How? By regarding me as tainted—by closing Comicbookks C@ 3