Weaker than a Woman — page 25: what you’re looking at

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

. re? =. us a nl 7" . -_ : 16 WEAKER THAN A WOMAN. “T should not think that money would make any one happy,” said Violet, thoughtfully. “No, it would not. Never hold with that idea, Violet. But this is the important thing—my father will now give me a partnership. My darling, do you understand—a partnership ?” : | “Yes, Felix—what then ?” “T have one hundred a year that my dear mother left me; I make quite another by reviews and articles for legal papers—that makes two hundred ; then from the business I am sure to obtain at least three hundred more—that will give me five hundred a year, Violet; and, my darling, there is a beautiful little cottage orne near Oakwoods; and, oh, Violet, Violet, will you be my wife? My darling, you _know how long and how faithfully I have loved you. I have come to-day to ask you to be my wife.” Her white hands dropped listlessly ; she turned her face to his; no warm flush covered it, no love-light shone in the violet eyes. — “How cruel of you,” she said, in soft, lingering tones— - “how very cruel on this sunny day to ask me such a ques- tion !” There was no anger in her face, no annoyance—nor was there pleasure or happiness; she looked rather like a child who had been disturbed at play. He was neither anxious _nor dismayed, for he understood the expression on her face well. “Why is it cruel, Violet?” he asked. “Ttis cruel. You know I do not want to be married, Felix. Ido not like being teased about love.” * But, my darling, no one can look at you and not love you.” “That is not my fault. And, Felix, you should not call me ‘darling ;’ do you not know that is hardly proper ?” “If I knew a word that conveyed more, and sounded — more sweetly, I should use it,” he said, looking with pas- sionate admiration at the pure, perfect face. ‘“Oh, Violet, do accept me. No one else in the wide world loves you half somuch. I would make you so happy that you would never regret it.” “lam very happy now,” she murmured, plaintively. “That little cottage orne is so pretty, Violet. There isa charming drawing-room that opens on to a flower garden— imagine that all furnished in white and gold; then there is a little room up stairs I should furnish as a boudoir for you —a room that would be a fitting shrine for my pearl of =— comicbooks.com | . - e 7 * > ee eS