Thrice Lost, Thrice Won — page 193: what you’re looking at

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

2 eae 188 ate pane Bartram’ Vs. . e vet f - ' 4 " . , y : , 5 ‘ gre rf. Tew rn 2 F ‘ : ; oan Lad Pies ers he + e > rei er ce pallid and anxious ‘Woking: before Tx from Philadelphia in a week.” = — - He kissed one of the colorless eee tice kiss he always gave his wife. Then, befor : a word, he was gone. é -\ Mrs. Hamilton dined solus that evening. am “a after taking the trouble to dress, did not wae m1 na oa pre. tense of dining. She ascended to her room, and shut herself in, and all the long, lonely hours of that sleepless nig za t she did battle with the supreme sorrow of her life alone. — co ie Oe Mr. Bartram returned as gas-lamps_ and twinkling stars were waxing dim in heaven and earth. He had barely - time — to snatch an hour’s sleep in his dressing-room, don traveling © gear, order a cup of coffee and a hack, and start for th a4 railway. He made no attempt to see Estella, and she, poor worn out child, had but just dropped into the deep: BIEED: of utter weariness half an hour before his return. Mr. Robert Bartram called:in. the course of the day, cand | sent up his card to the mistress of the house. _— a She had but Just breakfasted—pale and heavy-eyed, with h her wan little face whiter than the Christmas snows. pe ee It was Louise who brought up the card, and a. verbal mes | a sage: ‘ “He says he has something most oatticakas: to say to you, | madame. He is waiting in the drawing-room.” = _ Estella went down. Timid as a fawn, with no self-reliance, with no one to look to for counsel ‘or advice, not the least — in the world strong minded, what could she do? What w was she, frail little reed, to cope with this giant oak? a “TY thought you would come,” Robert: Bartram said, wit h his glittering smile; “it is your best policy,” ee Keep — friends with me, my dear little girl, and all will go on’ velvet. So mon mars went to the City of Brotherly Love bright and early this morning, and without discovering h his little Essie had been to Union Square yesterday afternoon. 2 ee you found sepept thoughts best, and didn’t tell, afte : | a | “TI did not tell, because I could oe vie Estella replied, the mournful brown eyes meeting the mocking - blue ones. — had no opportunity. But upon his return he shall know all” “Then, by Jove! I had better get my pistol ha \d in p prac- tice at once. How is he, Essie—this second: husband _ of yours—a crack shot? There'll be a duel as s sure eas ‘your name is Estella, and ’H wing him if I ean.” Sh se ee The brown eyes dilated wild and wide—the p ale lips pa anton —the colorless cheeks grew livid with a pep feron _ She had never thought of sesh and what 1 AOE eee yal in a bat E ?