Thrice Wedded, but Only Once a Wife — page 159: what you’re looking at

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

life, why, he is more vile than aught else in the world. But to profess to love and wed one who loathed me, my pride would never let me bow so low as that!” — “But,” urged Ralph, uneasily, ‘‘look at the case in a dif- ferent light. Suppose this man had taken a solemn oath that this lovely being should be his wife, what then?” This little dark-eyed lady was showing him up in colors altogether too truthful to be agreeable, though he could| but admire her for her spirit and honesty, and already he felt his passion for Dora beginning to cool beneath the charms of ‘the more brilliant, yet not more lovely, girl by his side. ‘‘T should say,” she replied, in answer to his question, ‘that his oath was a most unworthy one, and were better broken than kept. But excuse me. I forget that I am talking very plainly to an entire stranger,” and with a - haughty little bow she was turning away when his voice ar- rested her. ‘Stay, please, and I will introduce myself according to rule. I should have done so before, but. my awkwardness in obstructing your path has put to flight all my ideas of etiquette. Iam Ralph Moulton, at your service.’ e bowed low and gracefully before her as he spoke, for, in spite of her surroundings, he recognized her as a lady noble and pure. ‘Then he added, “Will you kindly return the favor?” ‘“‘Certainly. My name is Enid Chichester.” ‘‘And are you and your companions retained as captives. here? But I need not ask, for doubtless you are.’ eyes. 5 have not seen my bright, beautiful home for two weary years.” Two sparkling drops struggled up from the liquid depths _ of her lovely eyes, and rolled like gems over her flushed cheeks, hiding themselves within the folds of the fleecy robes in her hands, 3 A strange expression gleamed within Ralph Moulton’s eves as he gazed upon her emotion. One might interpret it thus: If he had but seen this lovely, friendless little fairy before he had gone to such extremes with Dora, he thought he could have found all the consolation he wished in her smile. With a sigh, half of regret for himself, and the other Comic HOS. S