Mrs. Bob: A Novel — page 267: what you’re looking at

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

NOW MONSIEUR SMILES BUT— 259 squire, as he advances threateningly, with his heavy cane upraised. The man laughs. What a sneer there is in the sound as it falls from his lips. ‘Ruth, don’t you know me?”? She looks into his face at these words, looks and seems to shiver, as though acold Siberian blast had swept across her heart, but lately all aglow with the enthusiasm of aroused hopes that have lain dormant for years. ‘‘Cornelius, is it you?’’ falls from her lips. ‘What!’ feebly utters the old man, falling back aghast from that face, with its sardonic smile, allow- ing his threatening cane to fall without even attempt- ing to use it upon the other, for this evil son has been the thorn in his flesh for years, and his presence here and now gives Squire Gordon sudden cause for alarm. “Ves, the same old chestnut—a bad penny is sure to turn up. IfI had been good I’d have kicked the bucket long ago. ButI am not here to preach a sermon—only to carry out a very disagreeable duty.” “Duty !’’ echoes his sister, who intuitively knows there is something back of it all. “Duty !? repeats the old man, looking from his reprobate son to those near him, and somehow the iron will of the past seems to have gone to pieces, for he falls to trembling as with the ague. ‘Ves, my solemn, disagreeable duty. It goes ‘against my grain to have to do it, but stern necessity -knows no law. . He is my father still, and, for one, I don’t intend the public shall be treated to a laughing C@ONMNIELOOOKS (EC) im