The Man in Possession — page 46: what you’re looking at

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

THE MAN IN POSSESSION. 41 I’m a fool, but when a fellow s been hunted by mothers and daughters like I’ve been, he's apt to be distrustful of ‘ disinterested’ affection. Now she—she wouldn't know who I was at all, and if she did care——” He broke off abruptly, his face grew warm even atthe thought. ‘‘ Bah! it’s impossible. Why should she? She's so superior to me in every way. Be- sides though I’m so rich, it’s all trade, and when the Brewery comes to me, as Aunt Judy declares it will, I shall seem like a walking advertisement of Rivers & Co’s Entire. And she’s of a good old family, and Irish people are so terribly proud. But oh, Kitty, who wouldn’t be proud of you? Why, youre fit to be a queen.” By which it must appear to the enlightened and un- enlightened reader that this foolish young man was already very much in love with a girl whom he had only seen twice. It was a not unremarkable result of accidental circumstances. Other young men and young women have fallen into Love's snares as rapidly and imprudently as this heir to the fortunes of a Brewery. But it seemed very remarkable to Tom Rivers, and the more he dwelt upon it, and the more he thought of Kitty, the more hopelessly infatuated he became. She was like a living picture before him. Her figure with its beautiful curves and easy grace, her eyes so dark and sweet and earnest—-her dusky hair, her firm, yet tender lips, her musical voice. All and every charm and grace of which she was quite uncon- scious and to which he was so keenly alive came viv- idly back to his memory and completely usurped his COMicloe (Sri C(O)