The American Marquis by Nick Carter — page 104: what you’re looking at

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

Naa THE AMERICAN MARQUIS. — ‘“Grace,” he exclaimed, suddenly, ‘‘ Why do I love you ‘sO passionately 2” f She smiled bewitchingly. iy : Ug | don’t know, Honore. Not on account of my deserts, I am sure.’ “Oh, my darling! You aeneee a greater, better love — than mine. You are so pure, so innocent, so honest, so loving. Grace, darling, I know that if every act of your life were spread out here before me, I could find not one which would not glorify your saintly life. — . Don’t contradict me. I know what you ‘would say. - You would tell me of faults. Heaven bless you! such faults as you could tell of would only intensify the white- hess of your soul. ‘But it is not for your goodness that I love you. Iloved you just as madly before I knew you. | “Ah?” he went on with exquisite fondness in his voice. I do believe you have cast magic spells about me. ‘*But I am glad your life has been so pure and inno- cent, darling. I am glad that I am your first and only love. Ithink that if you had been the ordinary sort of woman, ready to love any respectable man, free, perhaps, with caresses, I1—but this is nonsense, isn’t it, dear: en ‘* Nothing you say is nonsense.’ nne spoke faintly. ‘< You cannot wonder, can you, stich (trace, dear, if I rejoice in your freedom from suile? I am happy that I can say that my lips have never pressed any other woman’s but yours, in love, and I am happy that yours have pressed only mine. Why, Grace!” he started, excitedly, ‘‘ the very thought that you had ever spoken words of love to any other man would drive me distracted; and, if it were possible for me to believe that you had lavished such kisses as you have given me, on any other man, I would—would—why, Grace, IT would Mon Dieu! my darling, I am glad you cannot see the demon which my idle thoughts have stirred up in my heart.” ‘Why think of such things, Honore?” Grace looked pale and frightened. “There, sweet one, forgive me. I think I am not sane about my love for you. I think if I were certain that I was worthy of you, I could be more serene. But when I am in your angel presence I feel most my unworthiness, and then ~ Gomicbooks:.com).’