Thrice Wedded, but Only Once a Wife — page 127: what you’re looking at

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

6118 THRICE WEDDED. ‘My friend, I begin to believe that a kind Providence has indeed led you to me to-day; and that our lives and des- tinies are in some mysterious way connected, and the same person has done us both a foul wrong. I pray that you will have confidence in me. ‘Tell me your story, and perhaps I may be able to help you, or rather we may be able to help each other.” He looked at her with a sad, yet admiring glance, and taking her little hand, pressed it reverently to his lips; then said: ‘“‘My dear young lady, you do me honor to put so much faith and trust in me; while at the same time you shame me with your courage and calmness. I thank you sincerely for your sympathy, for your gentle eyes tell me I have that. But | am selfish to be so bound up in my own sorrows and troubles, besides being rude to interrupt so abruptly your story. Please pardon me, and continue your narrative, after which I shall, in return, tell you my own history.” He led her ‘gently to a sofa, and taking a seat beside her. signified his readiness to listen to her tale. s | | CHAPTER XX, A STRANGE STORY. ‘‘Some nineteen years ago,” said the maiden, ‘‘a gentle- man, Ralph Moulton by name, was traveling in Italy. He eame to Naples, where my mother’s family resided. . ‘There were four of them in the household—my grandfather, my two uncles, and my mother. Their names were Count of Lamerack, Gerient and Edwin, and Vivien. She was the darling of their hearts, the light and pride of their eyes. Nothing was too good or too expensive for her, her every wish was gratified, every whim pampered. “At a fashionable evening party my mother was intro- ,duced to this Mr. Moulton, and loved him at once. It was .-not a mere girlish fancy, but the strong, pure love of her inmost soul. He, in return, professed to reciprocate her af- fection, and wished to marry her. ‘This her father objected to strongly, He gave as one reason that he could not part with his darling to go so far away. Neither did he wish her to marry a foreigner, no matter how wealthy he might be. She must have a titled gentleman for a husband. -- COMIC 200KS co ee wih Syl Aiea ee adie Nae eo)