Vashti's Fate — page 242: what you’re looking at

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

4 ge »* — on cua SR — ~ <* ea - e — pe S ’ - i it = ~ : -< . Ld ALK Cae OE Gy Pic aiete amo « ; a POR Gee PD Fee Oe > tn ' eae &¥ . = ‘ > See . < - ‘ pn pe - . iat — , be 5 —_ + ; “ae i : ares d ' be - " re : ' REVELATIONS—DESPAIR. 239 bear excitement ; and you have been seized with a panic of terror—that is all—you are as sane as I an——” ‘‘What did Margery Gresham want of the keys, then?” Vashti said, in the subdued tone of an unconvinced child. ‘What did you want of the keys, Aunt Margery?” said Nora, in her clear tones, her tender hands still upon Vashti's neck, and without turning her head. * ‘‘T had been accused of a terrible crime,’’ Margery an- swered. ‘‘The proof of my innocence is in the Hermitage, It was to display that I sent for the keys.” | ‘‘Margery, oh, Margery Gresham !” Vashti cried, break- — ing from Thorpe’s arm, and throwing herself at Miss Gresham’s feet, ‘‘ prove that, prove it, and I will kiss the dust from your feet. I shall go mad, mad, mad, if you leave me in this terrible darkness that hems my soul round,” | Miss Gresham was touched to her inmost heart. Witha mixture of sternness and emotion, she lifted the trembling girl to her feet. ‘“‘If I prove it to you,’ she said, ‘‘it may be ata fearful cost to yourself’ You are in a very excitable state, and, I am afraid, unable to bear reference to this unhappy affair 3) 9) ‘“Miss Gresham, you mock me. I cannot, cannot bear this uncertainty of apprehension. I cannot live this way. I must know, I will know, all there is to know.” “Hubert, go and see if Dr. Gracie has come,” Margery said. ‘‘I sent for him more than two hours ago.” And, as the young man left the room, she continued to Vashti; “Tf Dr. Gracie thinks it is safe to lay this matter before. you, it shall be done.” The strange girl, still palpitating with excitement, but with that singular spasm of terror quite gone, turned away, Etat pity Te te Mee oF on - fai Pt,” \ See e * 4 q Tew “——— < = te 2 i = Oran Pee et bE Seed a OR co m GEomicbooks