Thrice Wedded, but Only Once a Wife — page 141: what you’re looking at

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

132. THRICE WEDDED, nothing more to do with her, at the same time heartlessly informing her that she must henceforth take care of herself.” ‘“‘Wretch!—_—” began Mr. Ellerton, in a furious tone. With a slight wave of the hand, and a taunting smile, the squire replied: “Yes; he thinks you are a wretch. But please do not Interrupt me agair; it is very annoying. Il told Ralph-a pitiful story; how his beautiful mother begged and pleaded at your feet that you would not forsake her in her delicate situation, that you would not cast her and her child upon the cold charities of the world. But to all you turned a deaf ear, and went your way, and never saw her again. [| also told him that you refused to acknowledge him as your son, but lavished all your love and all your wealth upon the son of his mother’srival. — ‘The boy curses you from his heart, and believes himself your legal son and heir, for lL have shown him a paper which proves to him that your marriage with his mother was lezal. He joins me heart and hand, and as soon as our business is ended here, he will return and try to establish his claim to your name and fortune, which, you perceive, will be a very easy matter to do with the proofs he has in his hands. Do you not think it will be a proud day for your brilliant boy when he discovers his name and honor are claimed by another, and believes himseif to be only a child of shame? And will not my revenge then be complete?” ‘God will never allow such a foul he to prosper—such a tissue of lies—such a wicked fraud to succeed,” moaned the miserable man. ‘Ha! ha! God! What has he to do with it?” was the impious retort. ‘If you have a God, perhaps’ He will hel : _ you out of this fix. But I rather think that Ralph Mou ton will win the day this time.” ‘You have not told me what you have done with my son. | I demand to know where he is.’ - “Well, I don’t mind telling you, if it will be any satisfac- tion,” replied the villain, with a malicious sparkle in his. eye. ‘‘His agony, at this moment, is almost equal to yours; for he is a prisoner within these very vaults, and not a dozen yards from your own cell, but his life shall be spared. Wher my nephew and myself have settled everything to our own satisfaction, then he can go free.” ‘EOmic i ae x ~ pe - ot