Vashti's Fate — page 99: what you’re looking at

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

a . ~ _—_—_ 94 WARNED, like a fairy’s, and dropping now and then upon the leaves to cry. 8 “If he does leave—if he does, after all,” she whispered | to herself, pathetically, ‘‘I shall.never be good any more— oa never! If I could only—only see his face”—taking a deep m breath. ‘‘I see it now; but how sorry he looks,” and in 3 a fresh burst of tears she cowered down close to a tree, burying her face in her apron, and bringing her bonnet down close, lest her sobs should reach his ear. Turning suddenly in his path, Leon came right upon her before he saw her. He stopped motionless belore her, wondering what ailed her. ‘Lenore !” . She started, but did not lift her head, sobbing more violently than before. Sitting upon the dry leaves by her side, he lifted her head with gentle force, and removed her hands from her face. What a tear-stained face it was; how woe-begone. His features contracted painfully. ‘‘What is it, Lenore, my dear child—what has grieved you so terribly ?” She could not speak for crying. He waited patiently : and long, till she ceased her sobbing from very weakness, and said, in broken tones, which made his heart ache: ‘‘T heard all Aunt Margery said to you this morning— every word. Ididn’t mean to. I was passing by the door; it stood ajar; and when I heard the first, I was so fright- — ened I could not run away, and—and it made me feel so bad. I never thought that I was listening till 1 heard you coming to the door. Then I crept away as fast as I could. Is it true, Leon—is it? Can it be true what she said about me and all of us? . I don’t believe it. I won't believe it. I had rather die than believe it. I wish I was dead now— é ee OR AN , * he : * ; "1 if a = 4 4 es a, ; cf ‘ yt 1 > : / > ' . 7 = . 3 as ee) i ’ yd - 4 ~ Ps » £ , ‘, ‘: pit 4 “ot o * ‘ > i way ark | stipe i -~ : 4 a4 - < 4 a 7 , . . 7 » or a’ ne d at ‘ “aA tS “ d aed — “ts sc : * > , . * eo er. Se at pint? el Bes ie AS oe ton Be” A ald ae ue he ced Mak b 4 ae) : Sk me aed