Gratia's Trials — page 135: what you’re looking at

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

126 GRATIA’S TRIALS. — As she uttered the words, Alberta hurried into the room on tiptoe, her finger raised and her eyes sparkling. ‘¢Mamma,” she cried, in a rapturous whisper, ‘‘I have good news for you. Uncle Ralph and Gratia are quarreling. I heard voices as I came by, and I—I listened at the door. I heard him plainly say, ‘You have no right to treat me so !’ and she ison her knees to him. Oh, mamma, we shall yet be safe |” Mrs. Falconer’s heavy eyes caught something of the exultant glitter which lighted up those of her daughter. *‘Are you sure, Alberta ?”- ‘‘Don’t I tell you I heard it with my own ears and saw it with my own eyes?” ‘“Then there is hope for us. Hush! is that the clock striking ten?” | ‘Eleven,’ said Alberta, breathlessly. ‘‘And she is in the library still. I know itis something connected with that journey that has made mischief between them.” “At any rate,” said Robert, rising sullenly, ‘‘I shall go to bed. Things cannot be any worse with me than they are now; and they may be better, that’s one consolation.” _ ‘*Mamma.” said Alberta, apprehensively, ‘‘ what has Bob been doing now? I see new trouble in your face.” ‘‘ Nothing—nothing; don’t ask me now,” said Mrs, Fal- coner, dejectedly. ‘‘Come, Alberta, let us go up stairs.” CHAPTER XXIII. WHO MURDERED HIM? a Mr. Ralph Miller, albeit he was contemplating a change in _his condition in life, had a good deal of the old bachelor leaven about him, and one of his pet whims was that no one but Scipio, the colored butler, must ever pi: either. his own room or the library. S —— comicbooks com