A Struggle for a Ring — page 313: what you’re looking at

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

THE HUSBAND'S PROMISE. 309 ‘‘Why do you persist in asking me? It can do you no good to know,” he said. ‘‘That is almost answer sufficient,” she said, sadly. ‘“You would have married her, Lord Carsdale, had you never met me.” : ‘‘Yes, I should have done so, Ailie,” he replied; and the words cost him an effort. ‘‘<till, do not make any mistake. If my soul, as you say, shines in my eyes when I look at her, I am sorry for it, and will keep better guard over myself. JIamamanof honor. Ido not make love to her, Ailie, nor do I deceive her in any way, I have the highest esteem for her.” | Ailie raised her face to the shining stars. ‘Do you know,” she said, ‘‘what I wish? I wish that I could die out here, by your side, and free you, that you might be happy.” ‘Nay, I do not wish that, Ailie. I would not purchase my happiness at the price of your life. Why should I? But there is one way open for us; I do not propose it seriously—I have not thought of it; but there is one Way open for us, if ever we have recourse to anything of the kind. I should neither propose nor advocate it; still, there lies that one path before us—a proper legal separa- tion.” The words pierced her heart; the beautiful face, with its tragical expression of love, grew white as death and cold as stone. The night wind swept around them, the stars shone brightly over their heads, the peace of Heaven brooded over the fair castle, but in the loving heart of that gentle girl a sword had been plunged. Even the silence ~ touched him at last. ‘*T do not, of course, mean that such a thing will ever be; indeed, I do not know that it can be. I merely say it © (0) -comicbook