Thrice Wedded, but Only Once a Wife — page 111: what you’re looking at

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

102 THRICE WEDDED. The little professor's eyes wandered admiringly over her, from the top of her queenly head to the tip of her dainty feet, while he quoted to himself: ‘‘A daughter of the gods! Divinely tall and most divinely fair.” Then suddenly feeling that he had no part nor lot in her affairs, asked to be excused and bowed himself out. 3 Mr. Ellerton immediately recovered himself, and said, in a voice of regret: “T beg, Miss Dupont, you will pardon me for being so imconsiderate as to mention this subject in so public a place. My intense anxiety and disappointment at the absence of my son must be my apology for my forgetfulness.” Dora bowed coldly, then arose, and taking Robert’s letter from the table, handed it to him, saying: “Tt is buteright, sir, that you should know the contents of the communication I have received from yourson. I understood from your conversation with Professor Ursengen that you had been the recipient of one something like it.” Mr. Ellerton read that cruel letter through, and then ex- ‘claimed, with perplexity: “Zounds!” He immediately recovered himself, and added, ‘‘I beg pardon, ladies, but I don’t understand this business—it is so unlike Robert of old.” ‘T agree with you there, sir,” replied Dora, a scornful smile wreathing her white lips, which had again grown pale as her marble cheek.” “‘T never knew Robert to do a mean thing in his life be- fore. Why on earth could he not have informed us of the change in his feelings sooner? I never thoughi they would change when he left home.” “But you see that he acknowledges life to be very change- able. But, if you please, we will not discuss this matter further. “He spoke of a paper for me to sign, which [ pre- sume you have with you. I would like to have this matter settled at once.” Oh, how proud and cold was that voice! ~ But he could not see those tiny hands, so fiercely clasped among the folds of her dress that the blood started beneath | the pressure of the delicate nails. ‘‘My dear young lady,” responded Mr. Ellerton, in deep distress, ‘‘] wish—shall we not wait awhile, nntil I can see my son, and obtain a more definite explanation?” comicbooks €o