Richard Forrest, Bachelor — page 242: what you’re looking at

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

EXONERATED. 233 Later, when the two men were onee morealone, and Dick was preparing to depart, Arthur said to him: ‘I’ve been pondering over this affair of yours all the evening, old fellow, and what astonishes me most is the fact that you’ve proved so milk and watery—so lacking in backbone. You assert that your are seriously in love, and yet allow the object of your affections to gilde out of your life like a mere acquaintance. The only excuse you offer is that the woman you sigh for proved ice to your fire in the beginning. Buh! The best of them dissemble. That is a foregone conclusion. Reflect upon ‘faint heart,’ ‘who hesitates is lost,’ and any number of other time-worn saws which fit your case. You cannot have waited all these years, simply to give me the details of it? It seems to me you’ve acted like a two-year-old, Dick.’’ Dick flushed. | ‘‘ Bear in mind, I was refused twice,’’ he returned, coldly. ‘‘Even so? Suppose you were refused twenty times, why should you lose courage? If she cared anything for you— and you certainly must be convinced that she did—she was bound to say yes sooner or later.’’ ‘‘Not necessarily. This was no ordinary love affair.’’ ‘‘So much the more reason for your overcoming all ob- stacles like the hero that you are. I'll wager she would have laid alot more store by you had you stuck to it. Women love grit. Fancy your losing all trace of her and moping your heart out in moody silence all this time. She’s probably doing the same, wherever she may be.’’ “That's a different proposition,’’ rejoined Dick. “I haven’t lost track of her.”’ ‘‘You’ve scored one, then, in my estimation,’’ said Ar- CORNIElOOO KS, EO) im