Laura Brayton — page 23: what you’re looking at

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

14 LAURA BRAYTON. careful of his property and mine, so just in every account.” “T was just in my business. But should I grieve that sorrow came to him who had filled my life with an everlasting wretchedness?” “Why did not I know of this before? Mr. Sharp, I have always trusted in your friendship, in your devotion to me and my interests!” “Well, did I ever deceive you?” “No, I cannot say that. But I have always thought that you loved my poor brother. You have striven to increase our mutual fortunes, you have told me how rich we would be if he ever came back, what an immense fortune mine would be if united to his.” “That is true. I never envied him his fortune. He won away my heart’s idol. Ought I to have loved him for that?” And the small, sharp eyes of the deformed lawyer gleamed like fiery jewels in their deep-set sockets, as he looked, even more than he spoke, the hate which had so long burned like embers in ashes, within his heart. “No, I suppose it would not be human nature to do that! But, Mr. Sharp, we should forgive the dead !” “Yes, when we know them to be dead.” “Then you believe that my brother is yet alive” “T did not say so. They say the Jew yet lives who mocked the Saviour on his way to Calvary, but ~- comicboo S. Pag 8