His Other Wife: A Novel — page 50: what you’re looking at

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

42 “THE DEAD LIVES?” crushed to speak, too proud to lament; but nature and youth refused to be curbed by pride, and a despairing cry broke from her, despite her cruel effort to repress it. ‘“Ts it true that I am homeless and a pauper, Mr. Croft?” — Mr. Croft did not answer immediately. He was look- ing at her with the changeful gleam in his eyes of one who is withholding a proposal at once improbable yet full of joy. ‘At length he leaned toward Leda, and took one of her hands between his own. He said, timidly, but eagerly: _. “*My dear, I should not have had the courage to make this terrible announcement to you if I did not have it in my power to offer you both a home and a fortune far sur- passing the one you have lost. Believe me, beautiful Leda, all that I am and have is laid with pride at your feet. Iam no longer young, but for that reason all the more capable of adoring and cherishing your royal youth and loveliness. You know that I am in a position to ful- fill your highest dreams of social ambition. You have only to dictate—I to obey. Do I ask too much, dear child?” ‘‘Give me time to think; Mr. Croft,” gasped the girl; for between her sight and the elderly, distinguished suitor for her hand, had flitted a vision of the passion-pale young face of Gordon Warren as she saw it last, while he presséd that wild kiss on her lips. co *SAlas | my:dear, time is precisely the one thing which Eomicbooks.co 3