Thrice Wedded, but Only Once a Wife — page 125: what you’re looking at

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

<A 16 THRICE WEDDED, unfortunate ones who are so ofter brought here. But Tam > only a weak woman, and can do but very little against so many wicked men.” Robert thought that she wasa very, very beautiful woman, if she was weak; almost as lovely as Dora. “T told you,” she continued, “tiat I have no other home. My mother is dead. My father I never saw, as he deserted his wife before I was born. My uncles, who were once rich and prosperous, have spent all their wealth in trying to hunt down the man who so deeply wronged their sister; and when she died they took me, a poor little orphan, brought me up and educated me, suffering every privation that I might not be denied any dainty or luxury. ‘Finally their last dollar was spent, and in their despera- tion they joined this band of smugglers, and while on some business for the gang in the United States they discovered my father. ‘They watched and dogged his every step until he came — to this country, and are now waiting for a favorable oppor- tunity to wreak their vengeance upon him, and claim my rights, after which they have promised me they will forever renounce this wicked business.”’ “You say the man, who is your father, is now in this country,” said Robert, as he paused for a moment. “Yes, in the country and in this very village, though why he is here, I do not know, unlessa righteous Providence has driven him here to compel him to do justice to the wronged.” A shade of sadness clouded her fair brow, and a deep sigh broke from her lips. ‘Will you tell me this unnatural father’s name?” asked Robert. ‘Ralph Moulton.” ‘Ralph Moulton!” exclaimed Robert, wildly. “Which— who—what—pardon me, I am so taken by surprise. But will you please tell me in what part of the United States your uncles found him?” fhe hero leaned breathlessly forward, awaiting her reply. “In S——, Massachusetts,” she answered, glancing up in - gentle surprise. “The same—the yoy same. How exceedingly strange!” S (@) comicbooks