A Struggle for a Ring — page 36: what you’re looking at

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

32 DECIDING HER FATE. cannot understand it. My uncle will not, perhaps, trouble himself as to whether I am innocent or guilty; he will simply close his door.in my face, scorn me, and forbid me to intrude on him again. My father, even if he does no worse, will do the same. Jam only seventeen, and I shall be homeless—I shall be alone in the world.” She bowed her head until it touched the cold stones. He stood watching her as she stifled her passionate cries. Poor children! it was a hard price for a day’s pleasure. Lord Carsdale spoke at last. ‘‘ Alice,” he said, ‘‘do you really believe that all will happen as you say—that you will be thrown alone and desolate on the world?” ‘‘T am as sure of it, already happened.” Then,” he said, slowly, ‘‘there is but one way out of the difficulty. Jama gentleman; I cannot leave you in distress brought on by myself. I cannot leave you to expiate my imprudences. If it is indeed as you say, there is but one way out of the difficulty—I must marry you.” She was so surprised that she raised her eyes to look at him. i ae, ‘‘ Marry me!” she repeated, naiv #ly. ‘‘Why that would make matters a thousand times worse.” He looked down at her in a superb fashion of his own. “*No; that would never be, Alice—it couldn’t be. The men of my race are not accustomed to draw ladies into : difficulties and leave them there. It seems to me, Alice,” he continued, raising his head with a proud gesture that was at once touching and amusing, ‘‘it seems to me that I hold your life, as it were, in my hands. To speak plainly—pray do not misunderstand me—you are in my power. There is but one thing a gentleman can do,” i) she replied, ‘‘as though it had cS co (Ee) mn (C 00 a” aa”