Richard Forrest, Bachelor — page 173: what you’re looking at

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

164 MADLY IN LOVE. your secret from you, but as I live, it is not vulgar curios- ity. Can you not see——’’ She arose agitatedly. ‘‘Stop,’’ she murmured, hurriedly. But he caught her hand, with a look on his face which no woman had ever seen there before. ‘*You must hear me,’’ he said, behind his closed teeth. She paused a moment, irresolute, as though the spell of his presence held her there, then impelled, apparently, by a power stronger than herself, she broke from him and dis- appeared through the gate. All at once the sky seemed dull and clouded to Dick; the sun, which had been shining brightly all day, appeared to be blotted out. Hope had suddenly died within his heart and had left it cold and heavy, as with bodily pain. When he began he had not meant to show her what she was to him, but his feelings, stronger than his will, had spurred him on until he had revealed to her more than he had in- tended. And she had refused even to listen! He had tried to tell her of his love for her, and she had fled from him, and perhaps even now was laughing at his weakness. Oh, ignominy! At his feet lay her parasol. Slowly he stooped and picked it up, and then, after lighting a cigarette, he started to go in the direction opposite to the one which she had taken. Presently he stopped, tossed the cigarette into the brook, where it gave up its short life with a resentful ‘‘hiss,’’ and shook his head at the image reflected there. ‘*So, it’s all over,’’ he muttered, ‘‘and, as is usual with men of my years and experience, I’ve made an ass of my- self at this late day. The rosy dream I’ve been so fondly cherishing has vanished into thin air—bah! it serves me E@RNIELOOO KS, EO nn