Thrice Wedded, but Only Once a Wife — page 218: what you’re looking at

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

THRICE WEDDED. | 209 ‘‘Pardon me for startling you, but I have oeen up since sunrise, : : ‘Over the hills and far away.’ I have but just come in, and stepped out upon the balcony to enjoy the glorious view.” “It is fine, isn’t it? Poor papa used to enjoy it so much,” she replied, sadly, the tears springing to her eyes; then ad- ded,- ‘“I’his was always his favorite resort, and he would sit for hours upon the balcony and gaze upon the scenery around.” She picked up the flower he had thrown into her lap, in- haled its fragrance, and then fastened it upon her bosom. He smiled slightly at the act, and she, suddenly looking up, caught his eye fixed upon her, and again the rich blood suffused her face, but she did not remove the flower. “‘Hinid,” said Ralph, tenderly, ‘‘may I interpret that as a good omen? May J tell you of my love after waiting so long?” ‘There is no need to tell it, Ralph; I knew it long ago,” she replied, in tones as tender, and with an irresistible _ frankness. ‘Darling, your tones tell me if your words do not, that you return it, unworthy as I am,” he said, as he passion- ately clasped her in his arms. ‘“Yes, Ralph, I do; [ loved you before I left that horrid cavern, and it almost broke my neart when I thought you the husband of another. But even after I found you were free again, I would not encourage you to speak the words which I knew were on your lips, for I wished to try you first, to prove the good I felt there was in you.” ‘Bless you for your frankness; but you will perhaps be surprised when I tell you that my heart forgot its allegi- ance to that other the moment I first beheld you.” ‘Then why did you persist?” hastily interrupted Enid, raising her radiant face in surprise, then blushing scarlet again as she remembered it must wound him to be thus re- minded of the past. | “Tt is all right, darling,” he returned, noticing her con- fusion, and clasping her again to him. ‘‘I wish you to know me just as I am. I persisted in the evil I had begun, merely . because my will and my pride would not yield to my heart. But I cannot express the gratitude | feel for the gift of your precious lové. 1 know——” wa \ Seen EComicbooKks:. Go