Weaker than a Woman — page 271: what you’re looking at

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

262 WEAKER THAN A WOMAN. — “IT must go out into the air,” he told himself: “these walls are stifling me.” He went out through the window, and he spent the night, as he had spent many another, in walking rapidly, so that he might beat down the temptation that was come to him. | Yor it was a temptation. So loving and so lovely, so gracious and fair, was Violet that he could have clasped her to his breast, and have cried out in rapture that she was his. But honor stood between them. He would never accept the dead man’s gold. In the morning he did not see Violet at the early break- fast. Miss Hethcote came down and made tea. Lady Chevenix had sent her, she said. She did not seem quite well. Miss Hethcote looked inquiringly at Felix, as though she would fain ask what had passed between them, but no word was spoken, and Darcy Lonsdale left Garswood quite unconscious that it had been offered to his son. The next two days were days of torture to Felix. How he passed them he never knew. On the third came a letter in the well-known handwriting, with the faint familiar odor of violets. He knew it was Violet’s answer; and, though he was a strong, brave man, he trembled to open it. Within that folded paper lay the words that might affect — the whole of his future life. Either Violet had written to say that for his sake she would give up wealth, luxury, and magnificence, or she had decided on giving him up to retain that to which perhaps her heart clung. “It was the only test,” he said, as he took the letter in his hand. CHAPTER XLVIL A QUIET WEDDING. This was Violet’s response to Felix Lonsdale’s request about dead Sir Owen’s wealth: : ‘“My Dear Fexrx :—I have thought well over the matter recently discussed by us, and I have decided. I know that I am weaker than a woman—but I cannot give up my fortune. It seems to me such a foolish thing to do. After being accustomed to every luxury, I could not give it up. I love you, and shall always love you ; but the test was too hard, I have pictured myself back in the old scenes, leading the old life, and I could not undergo it. I would most cheerfully — share all I have with you, but I cannot give it up for you—do you think it was quite right to ask me? e ) comicbooks.co a , ’ «4 , ? , ee “8 fy; - oa - - - a> atl aoe —_ ty . ~ eine a boat "tues a's © 4 J o . ’ we a © We) eA OE” Fie ee el ee ere