Weaker than a Woman — page 128: what you’re looking at

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

WEAKER THAN A WOMAN. — 119 her plighted word and oath of fidelity, who lures a man on to love her with sweet words and sweet smiles, who prom- ises to love him forever, and then turns round and says she loves wealth better? Where will you get this coveted wealth, Violet, even if you persist in refusing to keep your word to me?” But she did not answer him; there were limits to what she dare do, and she dared not tell him that she was going to marry Sir Owen. “You are very hard on me, Felix,” she said. “Nay, Lam but telling you the truth, the solemn, unvar- nished truth. If you do give me up and marry even a title, never dream that you will have the respect or the esteem of your fellow-creatures ; you would always be spoken of as the woman who jilted her true lover to marry a wealthier man.” But, in the pride of her youth and her beauty, in the pride of the future that seemed so brilliant to her, she would not beheve that; she did not believe it, although she did not say so to him. | “Listen again, Violet,” he continued, in the same grave, dispassionate voice. “* You seem to think it a mere matter of changing your mind. Look at it now from my point of view ; forget yourself for one minute and think of me. I | have loved you all my life; ah, my darling, you will never know how dearly or how well! You are my life itself; my heart and love and soul are centered in you, my hopes have grown round you. I have always thought of you as my wife; as the chosen companion of my life. Ah, my — darling, if I stood here until the sun shone again I could not tell you how I love you. I have never thought of life without you,never. I could as soon live without air, with- out food, as without my hope of you, my love of you; my ‘life will end when you leave me. Think of my claim, Vio- let. You promised me, and I have lived on your promise ; what is to become of me if you change your mind 2” “You will forget me soon, Felix,” she said, gently. “Yes, dear, when the sun ceases to shine, when the tide neither ebbs nor flows, when flowers cease to bloom and birds to sing; but not until then, Violet, not until then, my sweet.” His voice took all its old sweetness, his face its old light, as he drew nearer to her. “My darling,” he said, “it was not your real self that was speaking. Your parents have persuaded you. They have told you that I cannot give you a home suited for you; but I can, my darl- ing, Ican. Only trustme. Itisa strange dream this; a ™EOmicbooks (E(@) mn