Witch Hazel; or, The Secret of the Locket — page 65: what you’re looking at

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

MG eRe Ly ee Two hours Inter he rang the bell at Madame Gri- ham's door, A neatly dressed servant admitted and conducted him to # swall reception-room furnished in exquisite Lnate. ©“{ have no cards with me,’ be sald, in reply to the mald’s Inquiry regarding his name. “Yon can tell Mrs. Griham that un old frieud wishes to see her.” Ten tmilnutes Inter the door ie agola, and Bmede herself entered. She wae clad in a ravishing costume of gray relieved by piploge of pale lavender, aud was more beanttul thay over, although he detected aallghtly cure-worn expression about her ey ea. A look of curloaity and expoctntion was on her face, for she believed one of her Chicago friends had songht ber ont; but it changed iustantly to one of euzer delight, as sle sprang torwanl with out- stretched hands. “Advien—Mr. Earleacourt! sho cried, taken wholly by aurprise, and then the rich color suffused her face at having addressed him so familinrly, He had signed his letters to her thus for some tne, (alee she had grown to think of himby thnt name one. Hia heart bounded with sudden gladness at the sound; his face wus all aglow with hope nnd love, »Emelie ?' he boldly responded, drawing ber toward him and looklug earnestly into her lovely eyes, ‘It could not tale that cruel letter as my answer, aid so I have come for you.” She cast one startled glanve ap him; she opened her lips ag if to spenk, but no sound came from them, and nice tried to withdraw the hands that he was holding in a etrong, loving oor x ‘Nay, they ure mine,” he d, smiling, “I cannot let them go. Darling, Hd you think I wonld give you up so easily. I know al) about it now, the neh ob first your rejection was gw mystery lo me, Eimelie Grahnm never dictated that letter, it was pride that would not coufeas the loasea, the struggles anid trials of the past two yenrs, yet would not decelve ma or allow mo to take on irrevorable step in the dark. Emenhe, [ have come to leurn my fute from your own lips; if you Gan assnre me that you cannot became my wife because you do not love ina, I will go back agnin at once and try ta bent my loss as patiently samay be. Dirling, be frank with me—yon owe it to tae, I think—can you honestly tall me that you donot love me ?” He lmew she could not from tha lovely flush that came avd went on her ohesk, from the sly, down- cast eyes and the trembling yet now passive hauds Uhat layin lie, He had known it the moment she had spoken, from the nove of eagerjoy in her voice, But his face grew luminous with tender trinmph when she lifted her truthful glunoe Ww his and mur- mnred: “No, I canuot."” conichesls.com