Weaker than a Woman — page 276: what you’re looking at

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

WEAKER THAN A WOMAN. os 267 take from the beginning. Felix ought to have chosen you from the first.” < It is sufficient,” returned Eve, “that he has chosen me now.’ She asked him one day: “ Why do you always call me ‘Pearl,’ Felix? Tt is not my name.” | “It is my name for you,” he replied, “and I shall use no other.” But he never told her why; the past conversation between Kate and himself remained a secret. There could have been no happier marriage. Felix had a beautiful house prepared for his wife—not the pretty cot- tage orne where his golden-haired love had stood and de- cided that it was not good enough for her, but a fair and pleasant mansion, standing in the midst of sunny grounds —a home that a princess might have envied because of its artistic beauty and bright aspect. It was a quiet wedding, but Eve would haveit so. She would have neither carriages nor a train of bridesmaids, nor children strewing flowers, nor any of the ceremonies that attend a country public wedding. She walked quietly to the dear old church at Lilford, looking very fair and sweet, with the light flush caused by the morning air on her face. The sunlight streamed in at the windows as she plighted her faith to the only man she had ever loved, es whom she was to love forever. Then Felix took her away to the Lakes, and they were very happy. They were sitting one day on the border of Windermere, when Eve raised her sweet face to her husband, and said : “Felix, you love me very-much now ?” “Yes, my pearl—more than you know,” he replied. “Do ‘you—do not be cross with me because I ask the question—do you ever think of Violet?” He took her hands in his own, and kissed them. “Listen, darling,” he said. “I will answer you in other words than my own—sweeter, indeed, than any words that 1 could say : ‘¢* Within the kinedom of my soul I bid you enter, love, to-day—~ Submit my life to your control, And give my heart up to your sway. 6§¢ One only thought remains apart, And will forever so remain ; There is one chamber in my heart— There even you might knock in vain, 3 yes EOMmIGcbOOKsS: co my