Octavia's Pride; or, The Missing Witness — page 98: what you’re looking at

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

88 OCTAVIA’S PRIDE. waited, as well as the worn and jaded countenance of poor Willis betrayed the trying day she had spent. Octavia swept up to the bedside, her sparkling eyes tel. ing all without the need of an articulated word. General Wainwright sat up in bed, and drew one long, shuddering breath of relief from a terrible load. ‘‘We are safe, Octavia, my darling! You have brought me good news!” ““ Yes, papa, just what I promised you; and yet you ee not kept faith with me. You have fretted and chafed, and had no trust.” «Tell it over to me!” he cried, eagerly. . She sat down beside the bed, both hands holding his, and patiently repeated 1t all. ‘““Screw and Scattergood are keen as briers!” he cried, jubilantly. ‘‘ Who but they would have ferreted out the antecedents of that Ferguson, or kept such sharp watch of the enemy’s movements?” She smiled quietly, and did not tell him whose quick sagacity had put the threads of evidence into the lawyers’ hands. ‘‘T am very tired,” said she, presently. ‘My poor darling! and I am selfishly keeping you here. Go for rest and refreshment, and you may say good-night now. I shall sleep without tormenting dreams to-night.” Miss Wainwright gathered up her shawl, kissed him, and went away. When her dressing-maid had made her com- fortable in her own room, she leaned her head back against the cushions of the easy-chair, and closed her eyes. Her meditations, however, were not agreeable, for a frown, or a shudder, rather, knit a moment the arched eyebrows, and drew down the scarlet lips. «<T counted the cost in the commencement,” murmured she. ‘‘It is weakness to be stabbing myself with reproaches now.” | te AO comicbooks iy add R i. ‘ “ TOEa 4 ef ng \ ri ‘— : 7 . ' gt Fe : Hae ear ey a ae CV eee Bd he, Ae ee i a 4 Ue A) ok id tay te co