Weaker than a Woman — page 136: what you’re looking at

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

ghee ba / . . 3 d > - . or Ape To > . ae = -_ 7 WEAKER THAN A WOMAN. 127 Felix has grown hard and cold. Tell me where he is, that I may go and see him.”’ “He is at the office,” replied Mrs. Lonsdale. “‘Do go to him, Eve. He was always fond of you—he always trusted you. Go and try if you can comfort him.” A slight shadow of pain came over the sweet face—it passed in a minute. “Ves.” she said, thoughtfully, “he always trusted me. I will go and see what I can do for him.” Eve walked gently through the warm, sunlit streets. Many looked after her as she went on her mission of mercy —after the tall, graceful figure in the simple muslin dress, the plain, pretty hat with the broad brim. On her fair, sweet face, as she walked along, thinking what she should say to him, a beautiful ight shone. She went into the office without any announcement—she had done so since she was a child. Only Felix sat there, his pale, haggard face bent over his papers, a shadow like death in his eyes. He looked up in wonder at his visitor. Eve, with her sweet face, and the strange light upon it, looked like an angel come to minister to him. ‘*Hivelyn,” he said, “you are an unexpected visitor.” She went round to him, and stood by the side of his chair. “Felix,” she said, “I know what. has happened, and I am come to comfort you.”’ “Comfort! ‘Comfort scorned of fava ’ the poet sings. Eve,’’ he laughed, “what comfort can you give me?” She took the papers from his hands, and was: startled on that warm day to find his fingers as cold as death. She held them in her own—her sweet eyes filled with tears. “Felix, you must not harden your heart against me, dear. You must not keep me outside it. We have been such true friends—such dear friends always. Do not be hard and cold and proud with me, dear friend.” “I will not, Eve,” he returned, gently. “ Heaven bless! you, Eve!” “Listen to mea, little while, Felix,” she said, and her' voice stole like a strain of sweetest music over his tired senses. “No man can know a greater sorrow than this sorrow of yours. The one you loved and trusted has de- ceived you. Violet has been false to you.” He shrank back with acry at the sound of the words. She only clasped his hands the more tightly. “Never mind the pain, Felix,” she said. “It is right that you should accustom yourself to hear the words, and (e(e) ame cComichbooks