Out of the Past — page 49: what you’re looking at

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

46 Out of the Past. fall of Robert’s voice to a low tone when most serious came always as a surprise even to Benedict. “And still,” he continued, more softly, “there is one person with whom I can never struggle, be life as long as it may, one per- son whom I can never rival—just one person in the world.” “The woman you love,” said Benedict, promptly. Rob- ert nodded in the silence through which they continued their thoughts. ‘Has she already come?” ‘““N-no; but she will come soon; and I am afraid.” “Afraid?” echoed Benedict, incredulously. “Seriously and deeply afraid. What rights have I— what position? Shall I ask her to exchange her name for such as mine? No. Can I hold my nature in complete control and never once call upon her unconsciously? Hardly—I am not a god. And, if she is the woman of life for me, then I am the man of her life. Can I trust to the littleness I am to save her from finding love in her heart? Scarcely possible. The greater she is by nature the more likely she is to stoop. In all this I am afraid. I seem to be preparing a catastrophe. I shall love but once —TI wish with all my soul it could be put off!’ “Tt is a strange thing for you to be afraid, Robert Dins- more.” CONNIEOOO KS, GOK