Thrice Wedded, but Only Once a Wife — page 70: what you’re looking at

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

THRICE WEDDED. : 61 Both hovered near Dora now, waiting anxiously to be favored with a smile or a word. : A band of musicians, concealed by a floral screen, sud- denly struck up their inspiriting music, and both these young gentlemen stepped quickly forward to secure her hand for the dance. Fredrich Weimher, being first, secured the prize, and led her away, leaving Ralph Moulton standing alone, angrily onawing his lips and frowning darkly. Graceful as a willow was our heroine, and as gracefully Mr. Weimher bore her through the mazes of the dance, and then led her away to get a breath of fresh air. _ Sweeping aside some heavy curtains, they stepped through - a low window, out upon a balcony, and were hidden from view of the guests within the drawing-room. ‘‘Miss Dora,” said Fredrich Weimher, gayly, ‘‘I have not yet offered you my congratulations. Permit me to do so now.” “T thank you, my friend, for I believe you sincere; which can be said of very few out of the many who are here to- night.” ‘All seem happy, nevertheless;” he replied. — €Yes,” replied Dora, half regretfully. ‘‘And I am happy, while at the same time I amsad. I long to visit the old world, and yet it makes me almost homesick to leave my na- ae land, though I have not many kindred ties to bind me ere.” ‘‘Your friends will miss you sadly, Miss Dupont.” ‘Thank you again, Mr. Weimher, and I may reckon you — among them, I trust,” she replied, smiling archly up at him. ‘‘A friend! Oh, Dora, pardon me, but I can be still no longer. I brought you out here to speak my farewell, for I could not say it when others were looking coldly on; and does not your heart tell you that I had more than a formal farewell to say? Does it not tell you that I am more than a - friend? It is a cold word to apply to me, who loves you as deeply as I do. Do not hide your face, my darling, but give, oh, give me the love I crave.” He would have taken her hand, but she held it from him, _ while a look of pain swept over her fair face. Oh, Dora,” he went on, while a shade of keen disap- pointment clouded his eyes, ‘‘have you not seen how dear you have become to me, how I have fed and lived upon your Eomicboo cS Eo