Octavia's Pride; or, The Missing Witness — page 168: what you’re looking at

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

WAN WEAR PRAIA AN UNA SE ae Che ATK PAL Ene 1 0 se Ln ste eee hot hte ) Mya Se Ss ays me Fle AVS MA ay ips. ohm t . . 4 ‘Vat i 7 ' : At te, F ; . UPA ietry A eae y, ‘ mS Vy aes ins’ +> ; _) . ter 2 * ; a5 ie ‘J : 2 . a ' ¥ ¥4 » Aa ~ b> . i - i oy 158 OCTAVIA’S PRIDE. cealed nothing except the nature of the sacred contents of the package she was carrying to England. “You see, dear, that there is no friendly welcome waiting me, no home whose door will open cordially at my approach. But it does not disturb me much. J think J have more than an ordinary woman’s bravery and energy, or else it is owing to the generous and careful education of the noblest. man who has lived in these degenerate days. Some people have called me masculine, but down in my heart is the ever- living refutation of the falsehood. JI yearn so much for a loving heart to answer to the friendship of mine. I am sure I should be as happy as it is possible for me to be if only Ll had a female friend to whom I would be sister, mother, pro- tector, as far as lies in my power. My poor child, show me that friend. _ Relieve your heart of this unnatural burden. Tell. me your sorrows, and where I cannot banish, let me share them.” Will Yarrel drew away his hands and fell down at her feet, burying the agitated face in her lap. ‘‘Oh, you are so good and kind! You have discovered my secret, and yet you do not overwhelm me with reproach. Lake me, help me, keep me, and if a love such as a grateful heart like mine has power to give will satisfy you, be sure you shall have no cause of complaint. I will tell you all— everything.” ) Jane threw her arms around the trembling figure, and kissed the broad, white forehead with a tender joy that was marvelous even to her, it seemed to have so pure and dear a meaning. ‘It has its meaning,” murmured she. ‘I am sure it has, and some time we shall see it, and understand why we came to that lonely island and found you here.” They sat, still fondling each other’s hands, now and then softly kissing each other, two desolate hearts made happy, as a barren waste revives beneath the blessed rain, or a comicbooks