Thrice Lost, Thrice Won — page 53: what you’re looking at

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

48 | | The Hand of Fate, before I had spent one day with that man. Yes, xtoystext Darrell, I will fulfill my compact, and then——” She looked out, with a tearless, rigid face, at the dikan- ing sky, at the wide sea: Twilight was falling, gemmed with stars, and the evening wind sighed mournfully over the dreary marshes and meadows. With a long, weary breath, the girl laid her head against the cool glass and looked up at the starlit canopy. “Where the wicked cease from troubling and the weary are at rest,” she thought—“will such a sinner as I am ever enter that blissful land ? It grew dark. She sat there moveless until the ane opened and Carlotta entered with a light. “Time you were in bed, Miss Mallory,” said the young nurse. “It is past-your usual hour, and you will cateh cold in the draught of that window.” She arose immediately, with a prompt obedience that was quite a new feature in her character, and began slowly to. undress. “Are you going to bed, too, Carlotta ? ” ale asked. “In half an hour, Miss Mallory. Mr. Fisher objects to our burning his candles.” She began to prepare her bed as she spoke. Since her com- ing she had always slept in ber patient’s-room on the old- tachioned lounge. “Has Captain Darrell gone 4 > inquired Estella. “T have just let him out, miss.’ | Kstella asked no more questions: she went to bed, but not to ‘sleep. : ~ Jarlotta arranged her couch—literally her couch—set the wed Ae) AAS 2 ot f PIE’ 2 a DS room in order, disrobed, blew out the light, and-followed her — example. An hour passed—two—three. The old house was very still—only the complaining sea wind and the racing of the rats overhead were to be heard. Carlotta’s regular breath- ing betokened peaceful slumber, but Estella lay, with wide- open, glittering eves, waiting-—waiting|! A loud-voiced clock downstairs struck twelve. As the last stroke died away, she softly arose, drew on her stockings, wrapped herself in an old morning-dress, crossed the room ~ softly and bent above the nurse. | | “Sound asleep,” the girl thought. “Now or never is my time. Shall I tight the candle? No—I ean find my way in the dark.” It was not cuite dark; the starlight lit the room. From her table Estella took a small medicine bottle, capable of holding two ounces, and, grasping it tightly, tiptoed to the door, opened it gently and passed out. comicboo teres - ——- e Jt by a < = 2 i ii” * _>_ a és Le et es ae Get, ee ee tall < &@ ot i ioe _, St e- pp ee ee eg £3 a