Octavia's Pride; or, The Missing Witness — page 249: what you’re looking at

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

; bts Pint ot ae ee I s ssi Ni iv Hh car Bi re a tes oh ' OCTAVIA’S PRIDE. 939 opinion,” she said, brushing the lace ruffles of her sleeve with persevering attention. | ‘Such a look on her part never failed to rouse all the wrath of Felix’s fierce nature. His sallow cheek grew hot, his eyes flashed, the thin lips curled angrily. _ Octavia knew it, and secretly trembled. How the lightest gesture of that man could sway her proud spirit, while Lord Ronald’s most passionate love vow wearied and sickened her. “‘ Miss Wainwright,” said he, ‘‘ be fierce, and proud, and cold, and haughty, as you like. You know very well a word from me to the earl can dash you down from this pinnacle of your success and triumph. Why should I hesitate to speak it—I, who lose nothing, and gain all ?” Her white fingers still played carelessly with the dainty _ ruffles. She assumed an air of languid indifference which nearly drove him frantic. ““T don’t know why you should, Mr. Thorne; people are usually inclined to act for their own interest.” For a moment his anger rendered him speechless; then he burst forth in a perfect tirade of accusation,.1n the very midst of which he stopped, and said, in a voice thrilled with the most piteous entreaty and tenderness: “Octavia! Octavia! my proud, high-spirited bird, meant only to soar in congenial skies, beware how you allow them to thrust you into a cage, although that cage be a gilded palace! Oh, think what it is you risk, what a hte you choose! After all, is rank somuch? ‘Think of it—a mean- ingless title, that does not show in .a man’s looks or acts, | that is no part of himself—shall that weigh against a tender ly heart which holds your allegiance—you cannot, you dare not deny it, Octavia. A love so pure, so idolatrous as mine ~ could not fail to win return. You love me, and you marry Lord Ronald! Octavia! Octavia! have mercy upon your- self, if you have none for me! | ws heia age A Pas Pegs | ' EComichooks.com