Weaker than a Woman — page 132: what you’re looking at

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

a , * 4 - Pd ™) he <7 ; pe¥ a ee - 4 . ; WEAKER THAN A WOMAN. 123 She made him no answer. He continued : “TI can see farther into the future than you, Violet, and with clearer eyes. I prophesy to you that the time will come when you will repent of what you are doing now, and be willing to give your whole soul to undo it. Will you heed my warning?” . Her heart went out to him in love and pity; but there was the picture before her of Garswood—the thought of - the diamonds—of herself as Lady Chevenix. “TI cannot,” she said. He stood quite still for a few moments. “You forsake me, then, for a richer lover—you give up my love for gold? Say, in plain words, that you do so; do not let there be a chance of mistake, Violet—do not let any false halo linger round your memory in the years to come. You give me up because I have not money enough 2” “Yes,” she replied, but the word came slowly and with great reluctance. “T shall not regret you, Violet—you are not worth re- eret,” he said, but she cried out: “Do not be so hard, Felix; I—I am weaker than a woman.” “You are, indeed,” he said, gravely. “Some women’s weakness is half divine ; yours is—well, I will give it no name; I’ know none that describes anything one half so false.” “You are very hard, Felix.” He laughed aloud, and pleasure-loving Violet Haye wished never to hear such another laugh. “TI have no place here now, Violet. I: will say farewell. My dear love, my lost love, farewell. Lay your sweet, cruel hands in mine once again—let me look into your sweet, false face once more. Farewell, little white hands— you will caress me and stab me no more. Farewell, sweet eyes—you will look no more into mine. Farewell, golden head—you will never lie on my breast again—never again. Farewell! ‘Beauty such as woman never wore,’ heart most false, love most cruel—farewell !” His voice died away in a low wail, and the next moment he was gone, and she stood there, weeping for that which she could never recall. _ “How cruel fate is!” she said. “Ilove Felix. Why could Felix not have Sir Owen’s fortune? I almost wish that I had never seen Sir Owen. Idid not think that I should care about Felix so much.” It was something new to the spoiled, petted beauty to gs) (G(o) m iter ae Sa icomicboo