Thrice Wedded, but Only Once a Wife — page 40: what you’re looking at

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

THRICE WEDDED. 31 You mean you will not, willful boy. But disobey me at your peril!” The lines about the boy’s mouth grew hard and firm. He looked his father calmly in the eye as he replied : ‘‘T will not, then, if that pleases you better.” Mr. Ellerton threatened and entreated, coaxed and pleaded, but all to no purpose, for his son was firm as a rock, and at length, in despair, he turned to his friend and asked what he should do. Squire Leonard looked amused yet perplexed, for it was _ the most novel affair he had ever had anything to do with. ‘‘l'ry the other one,” he said, pointing to Dora. “Dora,” said Mr. Ellerton, trying to frighten her into obedience by a black look, ‘‘are you not sorry that you and Robert are married? Just think what a wr ong thing for two little children to do.” Dora looked wistfully up at Robert. ‘‘Robbie,” she asked, sadly, ‘‘shall I tell him that I am sorry?” ‘Tell them just as you feel, Brightie,” he replied, yet there was an anxious expression in his eye as he waited for her ansWer. ‘Well, then, I ain’t sorry one mite,” she said, flushing angrily, ‘and I think you are a real wicked man to try and part us, for Squire Moulton said ‘what God hath joined to- gether let no man put to thunder.’ Was not that it, Rob- bie?” she asked, half doubtfully, thinking ee it didn’t sound just right. The lawyer shouted, while even her mother a4 Mr, El- lerton could not repress a smile at this new version of the Scriptural command. ‘No, ‘put asunder,’ darling,” replied the boy-lover, a glad look in his eye, while he gathered her closer in his arms. ““<Come here, Dora,” said Mrs. Dupont, who had noticed the act, and feared it might influence her replies. - She obeyed, though somewhat unwillingly. Lawyer Leonard, controlling his mirth, turned to the child and said: “My dear little girl, don’t you see how unhappy you are making your mother? Only see how pale and sad she looks 33 Eomichbooks:co