Weaker than a Woman — page 105: what you’re looking at

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

96 WEAKER THAN a WOMAN. son light of the setting sun howe | in them and made them so dazzlingly bright that it was almost impossible to look at them. “What do you think of them?” he asked Violet. “T cannot tell you. Idid not know there was anything in the world so beautiful,” she cried. “How much are they worth ?” asked Mrs. Haye. “T have paid more thousands for them than I should like to tell you,” Sir Owen replied, laughing; “and I would pay as many more to please thesame person for whom they are intended. Miss Haye, will you try them on? | should like to see the effect.” % But Violet’s hands trembled as she tried to raise the glittering gems from their velvet beds. ‘Let me help you,” he said, and she did not object. The next moment he was standing by her side. He placed the brilliant star in her golden hair, and she felt that he lingered far longer than he need have done over it. — “What wonderful hair you have!” he said. “How beau- tiful itis! The diamonds are not good enough for it.” Then he clasped the necklace around the white graceful neck; Violet fastened the brooch herself, and he clasped , the bracelet on her lovely arm. She would rather that he had not done so—F'elix would not have liked it, she was sure; but then the temptation to see herself so decked . just for once was irresistible. She had never worn a diamond—and these were so gorgeous. Very soon he placed her before the great eilt mirror, and the crimson sunlight fell upon her, on the sheen of her golden hair, on the brilliant gems, on the face more beauti- ful than any gem. Such a marvelous picture as she made in those glittering diamonds Sir Owen told himself had never been seen. Mr. Haye cried out in admiration. “She is like the Queen of Sheba,” he said. | “She is fairer than any queen,” laughed Sir Owen. “ You ought to wear diamonds, Miss Haye. You were born to wear them. Knowing that, and feeling sure how well they would become you, I have ventured to buy these for you; will you honor me by accepting them ?” But Violet drew back from the mirror with a pale, scared face, and a movement so sudden that the light in the dia- monds was like gleams of fire scattered over her. “You bought them for me?” she said. “Yes, and I hope you will honor me by accepting them,” 3 he replied, with a low bow. | 3s micboot cies a