Richard Forrest, Bachelor — page 34: what you’re looking at

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

“ARTHUR AND 1 HAVE PARTED!” 25 searchingly into her face, she turned away, shuddered from head to foot, and suddenly burst into tears. ‘“‘Oh, Rose,’’ she sobbed, throwing herself wildly into her sister’s embrace, ‘‘it’s all over!’’ “ ‘“What is over, dearest?’’ asked Rose, tenderly drawing her head to her bosom. ‘‘There now, calm yourself.’’ ‘Everything in life—for me. I shall never see Arthur again.’”’ 5 ‘Tell me all about it, dear, if you can,’’ said Rose, sooth- ingly. ‘‘Perhaps it may not be so bad as you think. Did you quarrel? Come into the library where it is warmer.”’ ‘“Yes—no—I don’t know,’’ was the almost inaudible re- ply. | ‘You are all unstrung, and had better not exert yourself to talk just yet,’’ suggested Rose. ‘‘Lie-down on the sofa for a few minutes, while I make you a cup of nice tea.”’ But the girl made a gesture of dissent. Then controlling herself by an effort, she rose slowly and supported herself by the back of a chair. ‘*T cannot rest!’’ she responded, wearily, ‘‘andI must tell you about it, sister, or my heart will burst. Arthur and I have parted.”’ ‘‘Parted?’’ murmured Rose. “‘Incredible! Why, your let- ters——’’ “Yes,” returned Florence, sobbing seriously, ‘‘we have parted forever!”’ ‘‘How did it happen?”’ ‘Oh, it was his fault—and he was brutal;’’ continued Florence, burying her tear-stained face in her sister’s lap. “T never can forgive him for making meso miserable, never !’’ ‘‘Nor I,’’ said Rose, quietly. Eomichbooks (©) im