Thrice Lost, Thrice Won — page 130: what you’re looking at

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

125 ut 9g am ees hy Sruntic:” with a t Siremry little sigh; “nothing hurts me. Norah told me you had news for me— - good news! What is it?” She had lit the gas, and now stood removing her hat and mantle. Helen ‘Mallory, for answer, placed Peter Fisher’s _ letter in her hand. “Read that, my diay Your bugbear fay be your bugbear no longer. You need never fear Roysten Darrell on _ this earth again.” “Dead! !” Estella said, her great eyes dilating. “Drowned! how terrible! And yet—oh, Aunt Helen, is it right to be thankful at any fellow-creature’s death ?” “Let us forget him, my dear; let us only remember he can never persecute you more, You are free from his machina- - tions forever-—iree to marry whomsoever you please. Will - you read Alwyn Bartram’s note. He is coming to spend - Christmas.” The girl’s pale fans flushed. She took the note and ran. -- over the brief contents. Very brief—only two or three lines to say he would come. She did not give it back when she : had finished; she erushed it in her hand, and kept it there. “Rnd here 3 is a third letter from your father. ”” Helen said— 3 “the most important letter of the three. Essie, my dear, he. a - wants his daughter very much.” ee “Does he?” very coldly. “Well, he can ot ae her??.. “My dear, sit down and let us talk it over. My feelings Bess changed, Estella, toward the man who wronged my sister. We must forgive, as we hope to be forgiven. And, after all, no one alive has the claim upon you he has—your - father.” 2 “Aunt Helen what have I done that you wish ‘to be rid of me? - to send me to this strange man?” — - “Rssie, dear, you know better than that—you know [| could me ot part with my little girl if I tried. It is not that I wish to send you away—it is that I must leave you, and very soon.” ce “Leave me, Aunt Helen?” | “Dear child—yes. Dr. Sinclair was here this afternoon “whilst you were out, and what I have long suspected will come tr ue. You know what I mean,’ Essie. I have spoken to-you xf this before. Death will part us, and very soon.” : Auntie, auntie—don’t!~ I can’t bear it!” ) - She could say no more. The quick tears of sixteen started ad cheked her voice; Helen Mallory’s own eyes were humid. ) nay don’t say this to ‘distress you, my pet—only to show how : 80 on we must part. And I can not leave you alone with only es Nor: ie a protector ; ; therefore, when I go, I think—I really 4 et : a ats lla, Fon panst-pebire to your father. I had hoped ES “A father T Soot ie hace F viever watt ic eee: Set: ret 4 7 a . ry rs = 7 5 * ae Nig tet eee et ae He tes A 2 pers a i via ae Se ~~, a 4 — ‘ ~ <4, See: » sae pes e ie. ty “. ~ — - » by ~~ : ~" 7? Eom Ce 200 ok (E(O)