The Price He Paid — page 168: what you’re looking at

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

THE ICE BEGINS TO THAW. 159 “You feel the truth of whatI say. Do not strive against it. A promise may be recalled, an engage- ment canceled by mutual consent——” “Never!” exclaimed the girl, passionately. “I love George, him alone, and no one else. I mean io be his wife.” Raven let her hand drop. The gleam in his eyes died out, and the old icy mask covered his features once more. There was hardness and infinite bitter- ness in his voice as he replied: “Lay aside, then, in future, all care and anxiety forme. I will have none of them.” They drove on in silence, no further words being exchanged between them. The evening shadows fell gradually ; the mountains were altogether lost to view, and the mists hovering over the meadows grew denser and denser. Dusk had fairly set in, when at length R—— was reached; but there was still ight enough to distinguish objects at some little distance. | The carriage had passed through the outlying suburb, and had turned into the broad high-road leading tothe castle. At the other extremity of this road was situated one of the largest squares, or open places of the town. This square now seemed to be the scene of some tumult; for from thence the shouts and cries of an angry multitude were borne over, and, in spite of the growmg darkness surging crowds might be seen thronging the broad space. The baron started as the first sounds struck his ear. He leaned far out of the carriage, and then, looked keenly back in the direction whence they proceeded ; then he cast a quick, uneasy glance at his com- panion. “This comes inopportunely,” he muttered. “TI should have done better to have left you with your mother.” “Whatis the matter yonder? Is there any dan- ger?” asked Gabrielle, turning very pale. She remembered Colonel Wilten’s remarks, how he had deplored the hardihood with which the governor would risk his safety on such occasions, Comicbooks. co