Vashti's Fate — page 261: what you’re looking at

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

4 m ; . + . . 4 ‘ Ls - ,- cae 4 ¥ a, , bt ens » Sa ‘att. eat oe Aah Leaf ox. : of yr fie 1 f. 4, . . x6 A STRANGE VOW “Swear that you will never approach me unsummoned.” A flush swept over his pale face, but he said, as he lifted the Book she handed him to his lips ; “‘T swear.” With the same hardy resolution that always characterized her moments of deepest excitement, she gave the Bible into the clergyman’s hands, and placed herself with a profoundly solemn air by the man she was about to espouse. The — clasp she gave him was by turns ice and fire. As the clergyman distinctly and impressively proceeded to state the vows and obligations each was pretending to take upon them, her shamed and agonized eyes fell before the solemn words. He lifted up his hands. ‘* Let us pray.” And as he prayed the newly-made husband felt, in the hand of his newly-made wife, the storm of emotion that shook her fiercely. It was finished. And as the clergyman, Frank and Vio- let left the room, obedient to an imperative gesture from Vashti, the wedded pair searched each other's eyes with dreary solemnity. ‘My husband,” she said, her air all softness and tender deprecation. | ‘“My wife,” he answered as tenderly, ‘‘you will live to cancel this oath with which you have fettered me. In re-_ ality you are as much mine as I am yours,” She trembled before him, silently struggling with her almost unconquerable desire to say; ‘‘1 cancel it now— never leave me more.” | ‘“‘Vashti, sweet wife, say that I may stay with you always,” he said softly in her ear, pursuing his advantage. With her glance fascinated to his intensely loving eyes, flushes dyeing face, neck, and brow, she was melting with a