Weaker than a Woman — page 263: what you’re looking at

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

Ae ee o54 WEAKER THAN A WOMAN. CHAPTER XLVI pea THE TEST. As Felix Lonsdale wrote busily, there came to him the memory of a story he had read in which a lawyer like him- self sat alone in the library of a country-house, and the spirit of its dead owner came to tell him of some wrong that he had done in life. | “It is a pleasant thought!” smiled Felix to himself, and then he was startled fora moment. A faint odor of vio- lets floated near him, and, looking up, he saw Lady Cheve- nix. She was standing by his side, looking down on him with a light on her face that had not shone there for long years. Never had this beautiful woman looked more beautiful ‘ than now, with her charming head bent over him, stand- ing in the half-darkened room like a vision of light. The crimson glow of the fire and the soft radiance from the lamp on the table fell over her. She wore a very hand- some dress, which showed her lovely shoulders, her white neck and rounded arms—a dress that in the ruddy firelight presented most marvelous hues. With it she wore a dia- mond necklace, and diamond stars shone in the golden hair. There was something more than beauty in her face; he knew it the moment he raised his eyes and saw her. There was love—love such as had not shone there since she had bidden him farewell. The firelight gleamed on her jeweled. hand, on her marvelous face, her golden hair. She stood before him in all the pride and magnificence of her wealth and her loveliness, a vision such as rarely greets the eyes of men. And, as he looked at her, with somewhat of won- der and inquiry on his face, she sank slowly on to her knees, and bent her head before him. “Lady Chevenix,” he cried, “you must not do that! I cannot allow it!” She laid her hand on his arm—the hand on which shone her wedding-ring. “Listen to me, Felix,” she said, and the sweet voice stirred unwontedly his heart and soul. “I have waited — impatiently for this hour. You are going away to-morrow, . and I must speak to you to-night. Marian is in the ante- room there; I brought her with me. I .told her I must cComicbooks com