Weaker than a Woman — page 268: what you’re looking at

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

WEAKER THAN A WOMAN. 209 for me, though they do not seem great to you. I was very vain—every one flattered me and praised me, and I was led away. I thought my beauty was great enough to merit any station. Then, Felix, I was so young—oh, my dear, forgive me, I was so young—and foolish! I have repented of it ever since. I love you now just as much as when we stood in the moonlight together.” He raised her face and looked into it. It was beautiful enough to tempt any man to forego honor. He looked into the depths of the violet eyes. “You are sorry for it, Violet,” he said—“ really and truly sorry ?” “Yes, Iam, indeed, Felix,” and her hands were clasped around his own. “I am, dear—my life has been all regret.” “ Answer me truly—if the time came over again, would you act in the same manner ?” The soft eyes wavered half a moment, and then fell. “TI cannot tell; it cannot come over again. That is a strange question. Answer me one—truly, Felix. Do you love me?” She saw the sudden gleam of passion light in his face and deepen in his eyes. “Dol love you? Yes. Heaven help me, Ido! If I did not love you, I should not suffer.” “You are quite sure that you have not met any one since whom you liked even ever so little, Helix ?” “No,” he answered; “when a man has loved a woman like you, Violet, it is not easy to forget her.” “Then, Felix, if you love me and I love you, why should we not be happy? What stands between us?” “My own honor,” he replied—“ my dignity as a man, my pride as a gentleman. If you were penniless, Violet, I would kneel to you, I vow, and pray you to be my wife.” “What stands between us, Felix?” she asked again. “Your dead husband’s gold—the gold for which you broke your plighted troth and left me. You say, Violet, that you were young and thoughtless when you sinned, that you hardly realized all you were doing. I believe that. Suppose now I believed in you, and again let myself drift upon the golden sea of hope and love. Some wealthier suitor might come—an earl this time—and you would leave me once more.” “No, never again,” she cried, clinging to him—‘ never again !” | : His face softened into deepest tenderness as he looked at Eomichbooks (E(e) mn