Octavia's Pride; or, The Missing Witness — page 275: what you’re looking at

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

OCTAVIA'S PRIDE 265 ances, Lady Mary Falkner bore the untimely death of her only son with serene trust and saintly fortitude. As soon as seemed proper, the change of owners at Wain- wright Slope and Falkner House was made known to the public. Mr. John Middleton’s astonishment and delight may be ‘imagined when he discovered that, after all, a son of his was to reign as master of the old ancestral home. He dropped his faith in his elder son’s smartness, and _ transferred his pride to Maurice, although Felix had never before so ‘thoroughly deserved his good opinion. Both Octavia and Felix kept their good resolutions, and retained their humbled disposition. The former hastened to seek out the heiress who had once aroused her anger and resentment, to offer not only her sin- cere congratulations but her contrition for past injuries. The mutual confession of Felix and Octavia explained the mystery which had so cruelly menaced helpless Will Yarrel. singularly enough, they had each fallen upon the same plan, and used the same cloak and cap, which had hung so long among the masquerade garments in the old closet of the mansion at Wainwright Slope. Only it had been Oc- tavia who had guessed out the history of Mathew Merle’s niece, and acted promptly in her removal; and it was Felix who had rid himself of the unwelcome witness. Jane West, in her own quiet fashion, accepted half of the Falkner income, and then went her way whither her plans had pointed—first to America, to fit herself to be a worthy — physician in Doctor Morley’s place. Her letters to Wilhel- mine and her husband were faithful chronicles of her daily life. At first she hid her disappointment, but presently the indignation of her heart was made known to them. *¢Ah!” wrote she; ‘‘ this America, free and foremost, as it professes itself, in all liberal ways, has not ye emancipated all its serfs. What comicboo ‘S co