Guy Earlscourt's Wife — page 220: what you’re looking at

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

208 ‘‘Camilla’s Husband.” lle looked at her in blank amaze. Was Miss Lisle going mad ¢ all “C)}), you douw’t understand,” she ered, “T ain like the woman in that play—I am not mad, though they will drive me so in the end. IL tell you they are going to make me marry Lord Montalien, and [ hate him! Il hate him! I will Kill myself first!” A light began t- dawn upon Guy. By some subtle instinet he understeod her at ounce. “They--meaning Sir Vane Charteris and Mrs. Galbraith, J suppose-—are going to nake you marry Lord Montalien?” “Vos, You kuow ‘The Firs’—that desolate, abandoned old manor-house, on the Hssex coast? Whey are going to im- prison me there until I consent. They will do with me as was done with my mother, compel me to marry a man I abhor. And there is only one way of escape.” “And that is to marry some one else.” Ile was-entering into the spirit of the thing now. Mad escapades of all sorts had been the delight of his life. What could be better than to finish his career in England by the maddest escapade of all. H{e understood her as few men would have done, and pitied her intensely 1 in this hour of her desperation. “Miss Lisle,” he said, “w:'l you marry me?” He had spoken the words for her! She gave a sort or gasp of intense relief. “T will—-if you consent to my conditions.” “What are they?” “That you accept half my fortune, and in the moment of our marriage leave me forever.” “The first is easy enough—the second—well, not so pleas- ant. Still, to oblige a lady in distress——” There was a small Bible, bound in gold and pearl, on the table. She snatched it up and held it open to him. “Swear,” she cried; “swear, by all you hold sacred, never to molest me, never to claim any right as- my husband, never, come what may, to betray my secret, to leave me at the church door. Swear!” : | He todk the book without a second’s hesitation, and touched it with his lips. “T swear!” he said. She drew a long breath of relief. The cold dew was stand- ing in great drops on her white face. She sank down in a ehair and hid her face in her hands, with a dry, choking sob. The young ‘san stood and looked at her with a feeling of intense pity. (¢] And ee" on triuy ruin us ws Lisl oN a mi a | riage like Ahy | and | fore | foren ete., the o want, busin age; «Pp reetly that house the s TTe 6é T must Say C ec] broths house will d aad | Ay Tle mance Of th it loo se AY court, you “Ty comicbooks.com