Thrice Wedded, but Only Once a Wife — page 153: what you’re looking at

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

ee THRICE WEDDED. and drew her queenly little form to its fullest height, and — _ waited for the appearance of her dreaded visitor. The drapery was swept entirely aside, and a cry of indig- nant surprise parted her lips as she fixed her eyes upon the figure before her. CHAPTER XXV. : DEFIANCE. Well might Dora Dupont cry out, for she recognized in the handsome face and form of the man who stood beneath that arched entrance, her rejected suitor and enemy, Ralph Moulton. Utterly overcome by his sudden and unwelcome presence, her trembling limbs refused to support her, and she sank weak and faint upon a sofa which stood behind her. A look of intense love, followed by one of triumph, flashed over his dark, fine face, as his gaze fell upon the lovely girl before him. Madame Alroyd, who had half risen as he entered, now sank into her seat again, exclaiming: ‘‘Mr. Moulton! and here too!” “Yes, madam,” he replied, with a smile and a graceful bow; ‘‘and I trust that I find you well this morning.” Then turning composedly to Dora, he added: ‘‘Miss Dora, allow me to congratulate you upon your fine looks, although I per- ceive that traveling has robbed you of some of your former bloom.” He seated himself carelessly, though his restless eyes de- voured every expression of her marble face. She had by this time recovered her self-possession some- what, and rising with proud hauteur, she said, in icy tones: ‘To what circumstance am I to attribute this untimely visit, Mr. Moulton? It was my desire to have an interview with the chief ct this place. I am now awaiting his presence.” “The chief you will not see this morning, Miss Dupont; and you are to attribute this visit from me to your own fair self, and the love I bear you.” She waved her hand with a gesture of scornful impatience and said: a ~~ ; ~ - comicbooks:col