Weaker than a Woman — page 115: what you’re looking at

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

106 WEAKER THAN A WOMAN. - > How was he to tell this woman what Violet, his beautiful love, was to him? How weak and impotent words were! “T know that you are very fond of her,” Mrs. Haye said, gently; “still it cannot be—it cannot, indeed.”’ “Will you tell me why you have done this cruel deed ? What is your motive?” “Because you cannot afford to marry; you must not burden yourself with a wife.” - ‘Surely I know best. JI can work—I do work. I would work night and day, with one hope before me of making my darling my wife. She loves me, she knows what trouble has come to us, she is willing to wait a few months longer, and then share my lot. It will be brighter in time everything will come right for us yet. I have no fear.” “Tam not willing, her father is not willing—we see no use, no sense in the best and brightest years of her life being wasted in waiting for a marriage that, when it comes, will be the worst thing that could happen to her. We are not willing; and I tell you frankly that Violet sees mat- ters as we do. She wished me to say all this.” “Do you know what you are doing to me—what you are taking from me? Do you understand,” he cried hoarsely, “that you are killing me?” | “Tam sorry, of course—it is very hard, I know—but such a life as you offer Violet would kill her.” “TIT do not believe it!” he cried. ** You changed to me when “my fortune changed. You were willing enough to give me my darling when you thought that I was the son of a rich man. I shall be rich again in time. I have seen the change in you; you have given me cold looks for kind ones—you have been barely civil where you had been warmly cordial. I understand it—you love Mammon. Wealth, rank, luxury, are more to you than the heart of an honestman. But my darling is not like you, and I will receive the statement you have made from no lips but hers.” “My daughter is not at home, and you will gain nothing from seeing her.” ‘But you cannot do as you please; she is engaged to me —she is my promised wife—no man or woman living has — the power to break sucha bond. She could not break it herself.” “You will find you are mistaken there,” said Mrs. Haye. And then Felix saw plainly that it was useless to say more to her—there was something of animosity in her tone. He left her, still holding the open letter in his hand. | “J am sorry for him,” said Mrs. Haye, when describing — €omicbooks.com — AL As r 2 43 beet ee J * ~