Thrice Wedded, but Only Once a Wife — page 47: what you’re looking at

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

ss | ee THRICE WEDDED. As he approached, he saw a little white face pressed close against the window-pane, and he knew that Dora was watch- ~ ing for him; and his heart ached for her, for he felt that thus she had been watching every day since he left her, nearly a week ago. He sprang lightly up the step, just as the door opened, and his child-bride threw herself sobbing into his arms. “There, Dora, darling, do not cry. I could not come be- fore,” he said, while his own lip quivered. “Oh, Robbie, I thought you never would come again, — and I have watched every day till it got so dark that my eyes ached.” She hugged him tight, and sobbed afresh from joy at see- ing him. ‘Ts your mother at home, Brightie?” he asked, when she grew quiet again. ‘No; she went out to see a sick lady, and oh, Robbie, I was so lonely, I thought my heart would break.” “Weil, then, let us go into the house, for I have some- thing to tell you.” He put his arms around her and drew her in. He sat down and took her in his lap, clasping her close in his arms, while a great lump rose in his throat and almost choked him as he thought it was the last time. ‘‘Robbie,” she asked, softly patting his face with her lit- tle hand, ‘‘you aren’t sorry yet, are you?” ‘‘No, darling, nor ever shall be. Why?” : oy I thought you must be, or you would have come efore.” 3 “TY could not, Dora. I have been locked in my room ever since that night, and I climbed down the trellis to come to you to-night. Iran away!” He flushed with shame that he was obliged to say it. “You have, you did?” said Dora, with flashing eyes. I - don’t care, [ think your father is a wicked, naughty man, and I hope God will punish him.” ‘“‘Hush, darling, for I have something worse than that to tell you.” And he told her all that had passed between him and his father, only keeping back what he had said of her, and that he was to start for a far-off country on the morrow. Again the flood-gates were opened, and torrents poured | from the riven heart, She clung to him with a death-like ~-=comicbooks:.co