Thrice Wedded, but Only Once a Wife — page 101: what you’re looking at

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

a tet all 92 THRICE WEDDED. or not,” she said, answering her question. ‘He might think there was something familiar about you, and yet see- ing you in sucha crowd, not feel confident you were the same person. You may have changed more to other eyes than to mine you know. But what has that to do with your tears, my pet?” ‘«<One more question, auntie, first,” persisted Dora, turn- ing away her burning face from madam’s piercing gaze. “Did you notice Mr. Ellerton when he picked up my bou- quet?” “Yes, dear,” replied her aunt, starting violently, and be- — coming more and more convinced that the two were old friends. She went on. ‘‘He gazed very earnestly at you for afew moments. He then turned his look upon the flowers again, and suddenly became very pale and abstracted. I looked at you then, and your eyes were downcast, while I thought you looked con- fused, about a very little thing—if throwing a bouquet could make you lose your self-possession.” “Tt wasn’t that, auntie,” returned Dora, desperately. ‘‘I —[—put a note in that bouquet.” “Dora—Dora Dupont!” cried Madame Alroyd, in a voice of amazement, and lifting her hands in horror. ‘You don’t mean to tell me that you did such an indelicate thing as that! I don’t wonder now at his strange looks. Did you ever know that young man before?” “Yes, auntie,” replied. her niece, in a low, clear voice. ‘Robert Ellerton is my husband!” ‘What!’ shrieked the old lady, bounding from her seat like an India rubber ball, and gazing upon Dora as if she thought she was demented. ‘It is true, auntie,” said she, sadly, ‘‘and the note I put among my flowers was to tell him I was here, and asking him to come to me.” ‘Is the child crazy? I believe you are. Oh, I wish we had never come here now. For pity’s sake tell me what you mean, child!” she muttered wildly, while she walked the - floor with a woeful face and wrung her hands. «Sit down, auntie, and be quiet, and I will tell you all about it,” replied Dora, calmly; intensely relieved that her secret was out, and a secret no longer. She led Madame Alroyd to an easy-chair, then bringing a footstool she sat down at her feet. She laid her head oe | =comicbooks (exo) aa