Thrice Wedded, but Only Once a Wife — page 185: what you’re looking at

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

176 | - THRICE WEDDED. before my eyes. When I had collected myself sufficiently to glance at you, intending to look the love and joy I could not speak, you were leaving the hall. I started up, and was hastening after you, when a boy handed me a note, purport- ing to be from my father. It proved, like what you re- ceived, to be a forgery—a decoy to lure me here, where | You can im- agine something of my agony and indignation, especially when I heard of the foul wrong that was being meditated - have been detained as a prisoner ever since. against you. no avail. I have mourned and prayed, but all was of Now that I have you safe once again, I cannot be thankful enough.” He smiled, fondly drawing her closer to him, then added, slyly: ‘‘And if you really feel that you have signed away your right in me, why, we can make it all right again, in a very short aime.’ She hid her now radiant and blushing face upon his shoulder, and whispered: “But am I really and truly free from that horrid man— free to choose for myself?” “Yes, Brightie, you are free to give your own precious self to whom you will. Must I ask again for my wife?” He raised her head and gazed earnestly in her happy~ eyes. ‘They told him all he wished to know, but her answer filled his cup of joy full to overflowing. ““No, Robbie; I am blessed indeed if you will take methe second ing” Joyous tears glittered upon the heavy fringes of her eyes, and as he stooped and kissed her now scarlet lips she re- turned the caress with a pressure that thrilled to his heart’s Core. “Come,” she then said, starting up; “‘let me take you to auntie. There she sits, looking as if she could not wait for us much longer.” ) They went down from the altar with beaming, hadiant faces, and hand in hand approached the happy old lady, who had drawn Nina away the moment her darling had re- vived, feeling in the delicate kindness of her heart that their meeting was too sacred to be gazed curiously upon. When she saw by their happy looks that all was right, she wept and laughed by turns at her niece’s recovered JOY; until ae approached to ask her blessing. She greeted the young man with a warmth which con- ee CO Nic 900k: Ks. Gc co