Richard Forrest, Bachelor — page 220: what you’re looking at

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

“YOU KNOW I LOVE YOU.” 211 ‘“Would it have been difficult for you to have found at least one who was interested in you—who might have as- sisted you and would have done so only too gladly?’’ he said. ( At this demonstration of forbearance and sympathy the hot tears filled her eyes, and for the first time she came near losing her self-possession in his presence. He felt that she was trembling violently. At sight of her emotion everything else was forgotten. Impulsively he held out his arms to her. ‘‘Why did you not turn to me?’’ he whispered. ‘‘I love you. You know I love you!”’ But she drew back wearily. ‘‘Love?’’ she repeated, dreamily. ‘‘What canI ever know of love as other women know it? The pleasures of this life must be a closed book to me now and always. My cross has been a heavy one, but I must bear it to the end—alone. My whole life has been one long sacrifice—one constant struggle, and to what purpose? What has it profited either her or myself? Is shea whit the better for the burdens I have borne for her sake—for the fact that I have given up everything that she might be cared for and shielded from harm? There can be but one answer to this, and yet I must not complain; I must believe that it is all ‘for the best.’ Listen!’’ and she leaned a little toward him, catch- ing her breath quickly with a sobbing sound. ‘“‘It cannot be wrong of me to tell you now what is in my heart—to allow you to know what you are tome. Perhaps, as you just said, I am mad, but somehow it consoles me to be able to open my heart entirely to you. Ah! I do love you, and it was my love for youthat kept mehere so long. In spite of what you choose to call my strength of character, Gomichbookssco im