Richard Forrest, Bachelor — page 211: what you’re looking at

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

202 “I CANNOT BE YOUR JUDGE.” ing glance from kim. Oh, yes,’’ bitterly, ‘‘he loves her dearly, very dearly, indeed; he leaves no wish of hers un- eratified.”’ She paused and drew a sharp breath. ‘‘Therefore,’’ she resumed, ‘‘you may be astonished to hear that precisely as he now sits at her feet and gazes tenderly into her eyes, so he did to another woman just before he paid court to Mrs. Eldridge. ”’ ‘‘Impossible!’’ ejaculated Dick, positively. ‘Yet, it is true,’’ returned Miss Cameron, calmly; ‘‘un- fortunately only too true.’’ Dick made an incredulous movement. ‘‘Miss Cameron,’’ he uttered, ‘‘there is some absurd mis- take here. I have known Arthur Eldridge for years—ever since he was amere boy. This affair—but never mind; continue. ’’ ‘*Allow me to proceed, ’’ rejoined Miss Cameron. ‘‘I have not yet made any grave charge against him, haveI? My. Eldridge met the person I speak of, a very young and in- experienced girl—an orphan—at the house of a mutual friend in the city. Attracted by her youth and beauty, he instantly laid siege to her and finally proposed marriage. Fascinated by his brilliant manners, his handsome face, and all those attributes which go to make up the stock-in- trade of a man of the world, is it any wonder that she fell hopelessly in love with him? To her cost it was. however, for he soon wearied of the simple little country girl, and meeting another woman of his own sphere, more brilliant, and better calculated, no doubt, to fill the high position he had to offer her as his wife, he desérted in the most das- tardly manner the one who had nothing to recommend her outside of her pretty face and winning ways. Thus freeing Gomichbooks-com