Gratia's Trials — page 129: what you’re looking at

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

120 GRATIA'S TRIALS. her uncle’s words. Yes, there would be a passing sweet cup of triumph in being able to exalt over Alberta and her mother— Gratia was too human not to feel the full force of this—yet not even to drain this cup could she become this old man’s wife. Yet, as she looked into his beaming face, serenely benignant in its fixed lines, and invested with a sort of stately dignity by the silver threaded locks that rested on his temples, a new problem rose up before her mind. Would it be right to sacrifice his happiness to a mere whim on her own part? What mattered it, one way or the other, whom she married, or did not marry? The charm and glory of her own life were gone, but that did not prevent her striving to make another existence happier than it might other- wise be. All this time she spoke not a word; but Mr. Miller noticed the changing flush and pallor of her cheeks. ‘‘T have startled you, my love,” he said, gently. ‘‘I am almost too old and clumsy to be a wooer, but you must teach me better. Shall Il get youa glass of water?” “Oh, no, sir; Lam better now—only—I had something to tell you.” , ‘‘And I have a great deal to say to you,” he interrupted ; ‘‘but I must not stay now. I will see you again in the evening, and then we will perfect all our arrangements. ” “ As Mrs. Falconer stood alone in the drawing-room after, the others had quitted it, Alberta came in, her cheeks DiAZINg scarlet, her pig glittering with angry light. ““Mamma,” she said, wreathing her fingers restlessly in one another, and biting her lip until the blood started, ‘‘it is of no use. She has conquered.” And she related to Mrs. Falconer what she had heard relative to Mr. Miller’s new will. ‘“‘There is no fool like an old fool !” ejaculated Mrs. Fal- conér, angrily. ‘‘ But I did think Ralph Miller had outgrown the age when a man needs must fall in love with a girl simply. ' | comichooks-cEc