Gratia's Trials — page 152: what you’re looking at

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

GRATIA’S TRIALS. 143 ‘*No, sir, I am not. ‘The reasons were purely personal to myself, and can have no possible bearing on the present affair.” ‘Was he willing to release you from the compact ?” ‘‘He seemed at first very unwilling ; he declared repeatedly that I was wrong in my determination—that I had no right to treat him so; but I finally succeeded in convincing him that I was in the right.” ‘‘ Did you kneel to him ?” She colored scarlet. ‘‘T did—to implore his forgiveness for the wound I knew I was inflicting upon his noble and kindly nature—to entreat him to forget me and my ill-advised promise to marry him.” ‘And he?” ‘¢He forgave me, and we parted friends. ” ‘¢What was he doing when you left him ?” ‘¢ He stood by the fire, leaning one arm on the mantel.” ‘¢Do you remember what time it was?” ‘‘Not precisely, but I suppose it could not have been far from midnight.” | ‘‘Did you know anything of Mr. Millers testamentary papers ?” , ‘‘T supposed he had made his will in my favor, He told me so.” ‘<The will was prepared,” said Mr. Parley, slowly, ‘‘but not signed.” | Gratia inclined her head quietly, as if that were a matter of no sort of interest to her. ‘Miss Kempfield,” said the coroner, evidently somewhat puzzled by her demeanor, ‘‘had you any expectation of in- ~ heriting all or a portion of Mr. Miller’s wealth after you had heard of his death ?” _ €T never gave it a thought, sir.” ‘©Yet one of the witnesses here to-day has testified to hear- Eomicbooks.co m