Weaker than a Woman — page 135: what you’re looking at

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

1260 WEAKER THAN A WOMAN. were always suffering mortal pain—the ring had gone from his voice, from his laugh; he was an altered man. How he worked! He said to himself that work was the — only thing which could keep him from going mad. But it told upon him—no food, no sleep, no rest would he take—this constant warfare that kept every nerve strained. It seemed to him that if he once gave way, even if only for a moment—if he opened his heart to the dread- ful sorrow waiting to be admitted—if he closed his eyes in rest—he must die. Colder and harder and prouder he grew, shutting himself and his sorrow in icy reserve; and at last Kate grew so miserable about him that she sent for Evelyn. “TIT must talk to you, Eve,” she said, “or my heart will break. I donotlike to distress my husband—he is- ill enough; and, if Felix goes on like this much longer, he will have a terrible illness, or he will die. What is the matter with him, Eve? He does not eat or sleep; he looks like a man who has been stunned ; he grows so hard and cold that I am almost afraid of him. He does not open his heart to me, he avoids me, he does not even look at me—he who used to love me so well. What is the matter with him, Eve ?” Eve looked very pale and sad, her sweet face- was clouded; but Kate, in her distress, did not notice it. “T can tell you whatis the matter,” she replied. “I heard it this afternoon. Violet Haye has gone to London to be married.” Kate cried out that it was impossible—that it could not be—Violet Haye was betrothed to Felix. “It is so,” said Eve—“ Aunt Jane told me about it this afternoon; and, fearing you would be in great trouble, I came to you at once. Violet broke off her engagement with Felix some short time since, and she is gone to London to be married.” ‘“Married to whom?” cried Kate, in hot anger for har boy’s sake. ‘‘T do not know—she has so many admirers, but I believe it is some very rich man. Mrs. Haye is almost wild with excitement about it. She told my aunt the day before they started.” And then, remembering how Felix loved Violet, they both wept together. ‘‘T understand it all now,” said Kate. ‘“‘My poor boy has hidden it from us lest we should know what he suffered. Evelyn, does Heaven punish treachery ?” “I am afraid so,” she replied, gently. “You say that ~~ zy “comicbhooks.com | , ss Lie GA gaan