The Price He Paid — page 290: what you’re looking at

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

GABRIELLE’S RETURN.—RETROSPECTIVE 281 Those gloomy, distressing forebodings of an hour ago could not hold good before the magic of his voice and presence; and through the music of his words, distinctly audible, came the rippling of the spring, singing on the sweet, monotonous melody to which they had listened in the birth-hour of their love. Slowly the clocks in the town below chimed the hour of eleven. The baron shuddered slightly at this warning. Then he rose quickly, as. by a strong and resolute effort. “We must go back to the castle,” he said. “The night air is growing cool, and you need rest after your rapid and fatiguing journey. Come, Gabrielle.” She made no opposition, but, passing her hand through his arm, moved away with him. They entered the castle. Up stairs in the corridor, which led to Madame von Harder’s apartment, the baron suddenly halted. Could it be that his iron strength of will was failing him at last? His being was torn and shaken to its very depths by the great agony of that parting, but Gabrielle’s questions, full of a vague foreboding, had not fallen on his ears in vain. He knew that the least imprudence on his part would betray all, and would bring on her un- necessary anguish and suspense. The blow must fall—better it should strike her unawares. “Good-night,” said Gabrielle, all unsuspectingly, giving him her hand. “We shall meet again to- morrow.” “To-morrow!” repeated Raven, with profound significance. “ Ay—surely.” He raised the young girl’s head gently, so that the light from the hanging lamps fell full upon it, and looked into the fair face now again brightened by the rosy flush of happiness, into the clear, sunny eyes—looked long and deeply, as though he would engrave the image on his brain forever. Then he bent down, and kissed her, “Good-by, my Gabrielle—good-night!” Gabrielle softly freed herself from his arms, and left him. On the threshold of her room she stopped, and waved him a last farewell; then she closed the Gomichboo ¢s) (e(0)