Weaker than a Woman — page 160: what you’re looking at

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

‘ a P| i / eye ng - @ aS bist ay es om be ae 2 | me ATE : labs \ ies : “hy —_" ae a Lue Peed . got a a , a A WEAKER THAN A WOMAN. ~ 51 escorted father and son to Vale House, where Eve and Katie anxiously awaited them. “T am quite sure,” said Hive, springing from her seat, “that I hear them, and that is Mr. Lonsdale laughing—do you hear, Katie?’—laughing—and he has never laughed since the trial! Now I know there is good news.” There was good news in very truth, and the pity was that Lord Arlington was not there to see Kate clasp her arms around her husband’s neck and sob out that she always knew matters would come right—that he was so good Heaven was sure to make his innocence clear. Presently she looked at him with tremulous lips. “Is it really true, Darcy, that you are to be the earl’s agent, and have a thousand a year? I can hardly believe that it is all true.” “Tt is true, Kate,” he replied. “Eve, my dear, what have you to say to me, my true friend—the one true friend who loved me well enough to offer me her fortune if I would take it? Eve, I shall never forget that.” It had been arranged that Eve should spend the night at — Vale House, so they sat around the fire until they were quite ashamed of the hour, and Felix repeated every one of the earl’s noble words, while the two ladies listened in rap- tures; every time he paused they said, ‘Go on, Felix,” until he assured them that he had repeated every word. — “So it will be printed in every paper in England?” said Kate. ‘“ Well, my only puzzle is, what could have inspired Lord Arlington to do such a kind and generous action ?” Felix knew that Lady Maude had been the chief instiga- tor of it, but that was a secret he never told—he kept it all his life. It was Darcy Lonsdale who answered his wife’s question. ~ My dear Kate,” he said, “ Lord i inwiad has a love of seeing justice done. I remember when he raised half the county because some wrong had been done to a toll-gate keeper. It was such. menas he who made old England what she is, and who made the word ‘England’ a synonym for honor.” And then these simple people, who had been through the fiery furnace of suffering, who had borne sorrow, shame, and disgrace, who had never ventured to hope for justice in this world, knelt and thanked Heaven for their rescue ; and Darcy Londsale’s eyes grew dim with grateful tears as he opened his Bible and read how the just and merciful Crea- tor saves those who put their trust in Him. Gradually they awoke to the full reality of the good for-. Gomicbooks co ay