Richard Forrest, Bachelor — page 205: what you’re looking at

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

196 “OH! I CANNOT! 1 CANNOT!” His footfalls upon the heavy rugs thrown everywhere upon the hard wood floor made no sound. Uncertain as to just how to proceed next without startling the inmates of the room unnecessarily, he stood still a moment, hesitat- ing. Arthur lay on the lounge with his face away from the softly shaded lamp-light and his arms tossed above his head. There was no one with him. Dick took a step for- ward, when suddenly he halted a second time. The cur- tains of the long window opening into the balcony were parting, and in another instant Miss Cameron stood in the room. She approached the couch ard for a moment stood intently watching the unconscious man’s face, little dream- ing that another pair of eyes were fixed upon her with a gaze Which, had she met it directly, must have spoken vol- umes to her. Dick’s pulses quickened as he noted the slim, graceful outlines of her figure. How beautiful, how stately she was in her simple costume! No empress in all her grandeur could impress him as this woman did. Dick re- membered her, ever after, as he saw her there, silent, mo- tionless in her somber gown, relieved only by a white col- lar and cufis, the back of her neck, from which the dark hair rose, looking like ivory by contrast. She was bending over the sick man and appeared to be listening to his breathing. Presently she lifted her head and consulted the clock. It was ten minutes past nine. Still she did not stir, until a murmur from the invalid fell upon her ear. ‘‘T am thirsty.’’ Then only she turned and moved deliberately toward the table, and as she did so the light fell clearly upon her feat- ures, and to his surprise, Dick could see that she was ghastly pale, | E@NNIELOOO KS, EC)