Thrice Wedded, but Only Once a Wife — page 116: what you’re looking at

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

THRICE WEDDED. 107 his son. But you have always bribed me to hatred and re- venge. Oh! if my mother had only lived to teach me to be upright ard truthful, I would have blessed her, even had she — been unable to give me an honorable name.” Squire Moulton’s heart was boiling with wrath at the boy’s bold and defiant language, and cursing himself for a fool for revealing his plans to him, he retorted bitterly: “Oh, ho, my fine young man! it’s all very nice to imagine aman like Mr. Hilerton to beso generous and noble. A man in his position you know is apt to be willing to acknowl- edge his own dishonor. I advise you to proceed to him at once and see what kind of a reception he will give you.” Imagination cannot picture the expression of that vile man’s face as he made this sarcastic and taunting reply. It seemed as if all the evil passions of his nature had concen- trated themselves into one look of convulsive fear, hate, and | malice, while his wicked heart beat with terror lest his tool—his dupe—should reveal everything, and thus thwart every chance for vengeance upon his despised foe. He saw it would not do to break with Ralph; he had trusted in him to such an extent that he was necessary to help him. He resolved to work upon his evil passions again. It would not do to let him madly plunge both of them into ruin by one false step. But he felt almost as if he could strike him dead as young Ralph looked him full in the face and replied to his last taunt. , _**T shall at least make the trial,” Ralph said, firmly. ‘I have done evil enough already without having a dead man haunting me all the days of my life. 1 have sworn that Dora shall be my wife; and I am willing to do anything reasonable to win her. I shall force her into a marriage, and teach her to tove me afterward. But as for murder, ugh! I will not do it?’ | “T tell you, Ralph, you shall not do anything so rash as to go, as you intend, to Mr. Ellerton. You would only get kicked and scorned for your pains, and perhaps be arrested; then how will you marry your lady-love? Besides, I think you are rather overlooking the wrong he has done your mother, and that you also forget that he has known of your own existence, and willfully deserted you all these years. Are you willing to forgive and forget all this?’ asked the —craity man, Eomicbooks €O gave man ite ‘ -"