Gratia's Trials — page 217: what you’re looking at

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

208 GRATIAS TRIALS. “My he ee 1S accom plished, ” she answered, quietly. ‘‘ Yes, Iam going.” : ‘‘But you are wot,” he retorted, drawing hertoaseat. ‘I have much to tell you first. Our lips have all been sealed up to this moment, because anything like excitement in the sick- room has been strictly forbidden, and you have been too reso- lutely faithful a nurse to afford us any other opportunity.” And he told herall that had transpired since that day she had fled from the hotel. | Gratia listened in silence, her large, lovely eyes fixed on the narrator’s face, while the faint crimson came and went, fitfully, _ upon her cheek. ‘‘T knew it must one day be so,” she said, in a low, tremu- lous tone. ‘‘1I knew God was too just always to let the dark 39 shadow rest upon my life. But, oh! I thought the time would never come !” } _**Gratia, do you suppose that I ever, for an instant, believed you to be guilty ?” ‘‘T do not know, Colonel Falconer. What else could I sup- pose ?” ‘‘T would have staked my life on your innocence, dearest. Nor is this all I have to tell you, Gratia. Do you remember the day I saw you standing beside the azaleas at Melworth Hall?” AES, ‘Well, I have loved you ever since. I have treasured your dear image in my heart. You cannot go and leave me now, Gratia. I want to keep you always by my side—as my darling, cherished wife !” And that was Hugo Falconer’s wooing ! Mrs. Falconer, whose views on many subjects had been changed since the violent death of her youngest and favorite son, received the tidings of Hugo’s engagement more graciously than he had imagined she would. . ‘‘ She is very lovely to be sure,” the matron admitted. <‘‘I "*Gom choo ‘S:€O