Vashti's Fate — page 303: what you’re looking at

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

298 DOUBTS AND ANXIETY. ‘What else could you call it after the receipt of that letter ?” ‘‘T never received any letter, and if I had, should not have considered myself authorized to force myself on my wife even, at any other summons than her own.” ‘‘T repeat, Professor Thorpe, that there is some terrible mistake. Do you know that Vashti—is it possible that you do not know that our Vashti is blind?” “Sir! sir! Blind!” ‘« Blind.” Thorpe looked like a man suddenly stricken with a thunderbolt. . He stood staring at Leon, as though bereft of motion, | ‘What do you mean, sir?” ‘‘T mean that the lightning struck her; that she is blind, utterly and hopelessly so; that she is a wreck of her former self, but incomparably more interesting now than she was ever before. If less beautiful, she is far lovelier; and if I were her husband, I would see these hands severed from my body rather than relinquish my right to guide her steps to the end of this life.” The strong man tottered as he approached Leon, and grasping his hand warmly, said, in a tremulous voice : ‘‘Pardon me, pardon me! Ihave felt angry, despair- ing, and vengeful. If I had done my duty and hovered in her vicinity, | should have known this sooner; I should have had the precious consolation of—but will she receive me, Mr. Brownlee, even now will she receive me ?” ‘‘There is not a doubt of it; she is very much changed. But, Professor Thorpe, I want to ask you—and do not an- — swer the question if it seems to you too great a liberty —how did she come to exact so singular an oath from you?” comicbooks.com — : : " ; A ; 6 Fe ¥ . 4 ° t yl ? J . ‘ ys 7 hd es, soe t ” mA J ‘ao wae. & AD fi a Ahem a, 8 a ., ey Se GNI i _ , 2 fe te