Thrice Wedded, but Only Once a Wife — page 18: what you’re looking at

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

THRICE WEDDED. Qe After the doctor died the intimacy continued, until. with- in the last year or two Mr. Ellerton had suddenly become — cold and distant, though he still allowed Robert and Dora to visit each other. Whenever questioned why he did not visit them, his reply invariably was that his health was fail- ing and he did not go out much. Indeed, 1t seemed to be, for he grew thin, pale, sullen, and cross to ever ybody about him. Even Robert began to fear him and keep out of his way. But in his secret heart he worshiped his bright and hand- some boy, and planned his future course, building wondrous castles in the air for him. He was beginning to think that it was about time to put a stop to ‘‘Robert’s foolish fancy for that girl Dora,” for they could not always expect to keep it up. His son would be rich, and would move in very different circles from the doctor’s daughter, who was comparatively poor. How well he succeeded the future alone will show! ~The youthful pair, all unconscious of these plots against their peace, and also of the very queer act in life’s drama - which they were to play that bright June day, were riding briskly along the smooth, wide road that led into the coun- try, enjoying to the uttermost the green fields, sparkling brooks, and gay flowers, with facesas bright and smiling as | their own happy, joyous hearts could make them, ‘Where are we going, Robbie?” asked Dora, suddenly remembering that she did not know. ed thought wed ride out to N—— and look at Squire Moulton’s new statuary. I heard he had just received some, and that it’s the finest collection in the country. I have a. nice little lunch in.a basket here, and after we’ve seen all we want to, we'll go down by the lake and eat it. : “Oh, how nice!” said Dora, clapping her hands. ‘‘Is it - that gr eat, big house with the beautiful grounds, where we went to the picnic last summer?” _ “Yes; only you remember I didn’t go. Father doesn’t - like the: squire very much,” his face clouding for an instant. - ‘What is the reason he does not like him?” asked Dora, _ Inquisitively. | «J don’t know, I’m sure, only he was very Cross last year when I asked if | might go to the squire’s picnic, and I thought he swore about tb 1a: ope Sth don’t care,” said Dora inane et think he’s a real Eomicbooks.co