Richard Forrest, Bachelor — page 221: what you’re looking at

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

212 “YOU KNOW I LOVE YOU.” I could not go away and run the risk of never seeing you, never hearing your dear voice again, | was weak to cow- ardice. Day by day you became more and more to me, un- til for your sake, I might even have come to the point of abandoning my search for her. What claim had she upon me, after all, deserting me as she did? The deeper your face entered into my thoughts, the less distinct her image became. When, oh, that fatal day when I discovered her portrait in your room. Only too well did I recognize her features, her smile. It was through you that my fruitless search for her was rewarded, though heaven knows I would gladly have given up all hope of seeing her again, under the circumstances. Still, my sense of duty returned upon me with a rush, and I strove to crush out every other thought that might conflict with it. If we had met sooner I might have had the strength to bear the shock; at any rate, I might have found some consolation, and all might have gone well. But now it is impossible that there be any peace or happiness for me ever. She has been a blight on my life, as he has on hers, poor child. No, the woman you marry must come to you with no suspicion resting upon her; confidence cannot exist where reproach is possible. Oh,’’ and she lifted to his her beautiful eyes, ‘‘may it com- fort you in the days to come, to realize what a blessing your love has been tome. It has been the one bright spot ‘in | my whole life.’’ Again he seized her hands. ‘You are morbid, not yourself,’’ he expostulated. ‘‘In a short time you may—you must regard all this in another light. Do not be hasty. Why should your life be over? I ask you to be my wife, but I do not compel you to reply at once. On the contrary, I urge you to take your own time ECORNIELOOO KS, EO)