The Price He Paid — page 315: what you’re looking at

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

306 REJOICING AT MAX’S HOME, I, dare I, hope at length to read another verdict in them?” Yes, those eyes told another tale, as she raised them now with frank, sweet entreaty. “George,” said Gabrielle, earnestly, “I gave you great pain once. You know what divided us, what has held us apart for years. I then destroyed all your hopes of happiness. You made no complaint, had no word of reproach for me, and yet it was a hard trial, and you suffered cruelly. I would fain give back some of the lost brightness to your life. Tell me, have I still the power?” Ah! could she ask? The fervor with which George clasped his beloved to his heart spoke the reply’ before his lips could frame it. Again his arms were round her; again she listened to his words of love, as she had listened years before. In those early days she had, indeed, known nothing of the keen, surpassing joy she had since tasted, when, folded to Arno’s breast, she had, as it were, been lifted to the very pinnacle of human bliss— when, ina few short hours, she had lived through a life-time of felicity—alas! quickly to be plunged into avery abyss of woe, and taught the lesson of life’s misery. | Bitter had been the trial through which she had passed; but once again a warm, cheering ray fell on her path, like sunshine. Gabrielle would have been no true womanif it had not gladdened her heart to find herself thus truly, faithfully loved, and it is a well-established truth that happiness be- stowed on another brings its reward to the giver! Without, the landscape lay flooded in sunlight— the broad, gleaming lake, the blue mountains in the distance, all sparkling in the noonday beams. Even so before the plighted pair the unclouded future stretched rich in hope and fair in promise, a long series of gladsome happy days. All around was so sunny and bright and clear—and yet in this hour of her betrothal a shade fell on Gabrielle. Was there magic inthe air about her? Faint rumors reached her ears, whispered messages telling of a moonlight night, and borne over from a distance, : Gomicbooks (E(@)