Vashti's Fate — page 68: what you’re looking at

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

LS be | com THE SEARED HEART. 63 Shivering with a vaguely dismal feeling, he passed down the hall to find the sitting-room in which he had spent the evening before. Bewildered with the darkness and the different entrance ways that presented themselves, he could not decide which was the right one, but plunged down one ata venture. About midway of this another crossed it at right angles. More and more confused, he took the one to the left, and pursuing it for a little, bethought him- self that he had better retrace his steps ere he became completely lost, which he began to suspect he was, in this queer tangle of halls. But, worse and worse, In at- tempting to return, he made another wrong turn, which led him on a way that grew darker as he proceeded. ~“Suddenly hearing steps near, he perceived that he was opposite a door, and congratnlating himself that he had at last found the room he was im search of, he put his hand upon the latch to enter. At the same moment, from the other side, a key turned in the lock, and the door opening, revealed Margery Gresham. She started upon seeing him, and her face flushed crimson, and then faded to death palor. She pushed through, however, putting him back into the hall, dashing the lamp she carried on the floor, and closing and locking the door with trembling eagerness. This done, she turned to the astonished gentleman, her face alternating with flush and pallor, and her deep gray eye like the eye of a stag at bay. , “Didnt I warn you?” she says, lifting her shaking hand; ‘‘didn’t I tell you, Leonidas, that I would have none of your scenting game in this house? You have got to learn, boy, that I am sole and absolute mistress here, and I will not have you meddling.” -Leon looked at her in amazed incredulity. The whole l\ebooks (ere)