A Struggle for a Ring — page 80: what you’re looking at

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

wy, ~ te 76 AN OLD MAN CHEERED. ‘‘T think,” he said, ‘‘I will change my mind and join you, Mr. Derwent.” Then the dancing-master was truly happy. It was all horrible to Lord Carsdale, but he persevered. If he had married Alice for love, he might have found it unendura- ble—as it was, he said to himself it was all for honor’s sake. He grew interested, too, in the story of John Der- went’s life—its troubles, trials, perplexities, etc.—the hor- rible uncertainty that he was always in as to how he should, as he phrased it, make both ends meet. Lord Carsdale grew interested. “It is like a fight,” he said—‘‘like a struggle, this life _ of yours.” “Yes,” said John Derwent, ‘‘and a very heavy struggle it is, too.” Then Lord Carsdale gladdened his heart. ‘<I told Ailie, Mr. Derwent,” he began, ‘‘that I should — do something to help you. Just at present it will not be very much, afterward it will be more. At present I shall _ allow you a hundred a year, and in time to come I will make itmore. Ido not like the idea of my wife’s father being in constant distress.” - Then he looked up in amaze, for John Derwent was standing before him, his face perfectly white with emotion, his lips quivering as he spoke: **You will do what, sir? You will give mea hundred ayear? You really mean it—it is not a jest?” ‘A jest? Certainly not; it would be a sorry jest to deceive you so. It is but a trifle—why should it agitate you so greatly? Iwill make it more in the time to come.” ‘‘A whole hundred a year!” said the dancing-master. ‘Why, sir, you cannot tell, you do not know, what this -is to me;” and Lord Carsdale found his hand seized and - Comicbooks (elo) nN