The Price He Paid — page 289: what you’re looking at

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

280 GABRIELLE 's RETURN.—RETROSPECTIVE. the radiant clearness of asummer day. Now the valley slept half hidden in its shimmering depths. At the foot of the Castle-hill the city lamps burned steadily, and its roofs and towers rose white and olittering, aloft into the pure night air. Up here too, inthe garden, the curling mists crept over the grass, and here too the fitful moon- beams wove their fantastic imagery. Under their influence the gray moss-grown figures about the Nixies’ Well seemed to grow into life, to move to and fro behind their humid screen of falling water. The fountain, struck in full by the chaste stream of light from above, rose and sank again in shin- ing sheets of silver rain. Intermingled with its splash and murmur came those voices which are heard only in the stillness of the night, strange, unfamiliar voices, mysterious as the night itself. The wind was hushed. _ The evening was so mild and clear, one might have dreamed that spring had come again; and, truly, the dream that was now filling Raven’s mind was gracious as any May-morning—a late-timed, short-lived dream, no doubt, but concentrating in its brief space all the blessedness which earth can give ; 80, in passionate heart. stirring words, he swore to the fair young creature he held in his arms, to the woman who had taught him to know both love and happiness. Had any unseen, unsuspected spectator looked on Raven, listened to his impas- sioned accents, such a one would have understood that this man, despite his years, despite his stern- ness and reserve, despite all the darker side of his nature, must surely carry off the palm, must win the day against all others where his intenser feel- ings were engaged, where his heart was set on victory. All the long pent-up ardor and tender- ness flamed up in him anew; every word, every look, told of a passion which, in its power and depth; could have fired no youthful breast, a pas- sion such as only a strong man in his maturity could conceive. This Gabrielle felt, as, closely nestling to his side, her head resting on_ his shoulder, she looked up at him with a happy smile. Eomichooks:co