Violet Lisle — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

eT ae CHAPTER LI. A VILLAGE LOVE. * Will you forgive my presumption, Miss Violet?” “JT have nothing to forgive, Mr. Jenkins; the love of so good and true a man as you must be an honor to any girl.” The two speakers stood under the spreading branches of a great oak. Near by stood the ruins of Penarth Abbey, its ivy mantled walis gilded by the glowing rays of a warm autumn sun, and the long shadows cast by the famous Penarth oaks falling in fantastic shapes over its uneven contours. It was plain from the sketch-book in the girl’s hand that she had been there with an artist's purpose. A glance at the man told that he was a curate— _ a fact betrayed no less by his air than by his garb. There was deep distress on her sweet, fair young face, and bravely subdued agony on his. It was more than man could bear to lose all hope of ever winning the pre- cious prize of her love, even though he, had battled man- fully against giving hope a foothold in his breast. “And it could never be?” he asked, after a painful pause. — “No, for I do not love you. Irespect you, like you very, very much, would wish you fora friend always. I am so sorry, Mr. Jenkins,” and the ready tears of sympa- thy filled her de: p blue eyes. “Oh, «+n't, please don’t!” he cried. “I ought never to M65756 comicbookscom =)