Octavia's Pride; or, The Missing Witness — page 64: what you’re looking at

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

‘O4 OCTAVIA’S PRIDE. He hung his head in sorrow and humility. How ey his affairs had vanished from her mind! ‘‘It is of no consequence,” he answered, in a stifled voice. And Octavia Wainwright swept through into the hall, and the great door closed after her. Felix Thorne Middleton stood looking at the ae space with dreary eyes. ‘‘What a bitter farce this life of ours can be!’ muttered he. ‘‘ Here I am ready to peril my life, my honor, my very soul’s salvation, to win that woman’s toleration, and she has no more thought for my agony and despair than for the ex- istence of a fly upon the ceiling there.” Presently the old sardonic smile broke over his face. ‘¢But my time will come. ‘The strange girl loves the old place as much as she loves her father. She will consent to be my wife rather than be thrust outfromit. Humilating as it is to confess it, I shall be thankful to obtain even such a beggar’s portion; for I cannot, though I were to tear out my heart from my breast, I cannot put away this wild love which is consuming me!” He stood there bolt upright, until he heard a light step crossing the corridor above; then, remembering the charge he had received, he went out and gave the order about the horses. Scarcely an hour afterward, Miss Wainwright, dressed in a gray traveling suit, came swiftly down the stairs. Felix was ready to hand her into the carriage, hoping to be re- paid by a single glance, but a thick vail concealed her face. She paused, however, just as she was seating gee and leaning out, said: ‘You must go and talk with papa, Felix, while J am gone, and keep upon cheerful topics, and ‘leave business affairs alone: Good-day.” Did she know the cordial tone of that good-day would keep him earnest and submissive to her bidding? comicbooks.co m1