Witch Hazel; or, The Secret of the Locket — page 200: what you’re looking at

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

, question, if you won't think it too impertinent.” | “Lay on, Charlie,” Percy returned, searching the | young man’s face with a critical glance. ' “Tam afraid I ought not, and yet I am driven to it,” he returned, a deep flush mantling his brow. “T| want to ask if you have any special claim upon Miss | Gay. Ihave a particular reason for asking.” “What reason? Give me your confidence, Charlie; you way safely do so,” Percy said, with grave kind- ness. “Hangit! that isn't easy to do, Morton,” replied his companion, reddening again. “Sometimes I’ve thought you were gone on Miss Stewart, and then again I'd feel sare that dear little ‘hazel-eye’ was your inamorata. Ifit's Miss Stewart, then I’m all right; butif you have a prior claim upon Miss Gay, ll just step out of the way altogether, and not tres- pass upon your territory.” Percy flushed at this, then grew very white about the mouth; but he bravely put his own feelings out of sight, and quietly remarked: “So, then, you are partial to Miss Gay.” “Partial! why, Morton, she’s a girl that a man could die for! There! you have my secret now. Hazel Gay is more to me than any other woman in the world. I have imagined that you were fond of her, too, and so [ thought it would be only honorable in me to let you know where [ stand.” | “Have you ever intimated anything of your feel- ing to—Miss Gay ?”’ Percy inquired, in the same quiet tone as before. “Not a word as yet.” “But you wish to do so?” “Yes, TIshould have done so ere this pat sat T half suspected there was some undetsti aS Se