Octavia's Pride; or, The Missing Witness — page 160: what you’re looking at

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

150 OCTAVIA’S PRIDE. He put her safely on a chair, bowing with the most cere- monious politeness. ‘“‘Tam happy to have been of service to Miss Ware wright.” And he hastened to make himself useful in extinguishing the fire and quieting the alarm of the ladies. Lord Ronald, although out of the range of the circle be- neath the chandelier, was struck by a flying fragment, and his cheek slightly wounded. ‘As soon as he had cleared it from the flowing blood he came, in a transport of grateful relief, and seized Felix by the hand. ‘‘Mr. Thorne, you have made me your life-long debtor! To think what might have happened! ‘That precious life, that glorious loveliness threatened by so. frightful a disaster! Oh, sir, what a calamity you have spared us!—what a ser- vice you have rendered me /” Every feature of the young lord’s face quivered with the earnestness of his agitated heart. His eyes were too misty to see what a ghastliness was on the other’s countenance. Felix spoke hoarsely and through shut teeth. How at that moment his wild hatred for the handsome young noble- man flared up in his passionate heart! ‘““It is of no consequence, sir,” he said; *‘ you owe me nothing.” And he tried to break away, but Lord Ronald’s hasty hand held him. ‘““Owe you nothing?” repeated Lord Ronald. ‘‘ What! Do you not guess all that she is to me?” This time his hand was not strong enough to hold. Felix dragged himself away, darted through the door, and never paused until he had gained the night air. At the rear vestibule he paused and turned his sternly set face to catch the cool air and the reviving moisture of the softly descend- ing dew. Lwo hours he stood there, motionless, like one of the ~ comicbooks.com —