The Dugdale Millions — page 326: what you’re looking at

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

316 THE DUGDALE MILLIONS. burned brightly above all the rest, standing out most vividly. His next speech was a commonplace: “Then, when I set out upon that search for the child of Edmund Dugdale, I was in fact looking for myself.”’ He saw Bessie’s eyes upon him beaming with love. He went to her and, bowing before her, said : “Though it has been determined that young Pierson is young Dugdale, yet a young Dugdale has been found. It is I who deprive you of these millions. Well, I restore them to you. At your feet I lay them all. They are yours—everything. But there 1s an incumbrance upon them—it is myself. You cannot take the one without the other. Do you accept them ?”’ He had no need to ask. The love and consent were in her eyes. He took her hand, gently drawing her to him—that hand cut and torn through her efforts to save his life, and led her to herfather. ‘ Sir,” he said, “J present you the Dugdale heiress. I have bestowed all the wealth upon her—with an incumbrance to be sure—myself. Do you consent that she accept toem 7” “The wind sets from a different quarter than last night, neighbor Hetlow,” laughed Mr. Stanton. Mr. Hetlow, secretly pleased in his heart, ashamed now of his previous opposition, and greatly annoyed by Mr. Stanton’s remark, did not withhold his consent. He had hardly given it when Dick was addressed by Lord Merrimount, who said : ‘‘ Mason, I came here the bearer of a proposition from my father to Mr. Hetlow, but as events have turned, it is to you I must make it.” “TI know what it 1s,” cried Dick, for Wallis had informed him only that morning. ‘The offer is ac- cepted,’ extending his hand to the young English- man, “It shall be as you wish, and I will be only too glad to have you as a partner in the largest wool house in the world.” Comicboolkk<s C@ 3