Weaker than a Woman — page 31: what you’re looking at

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

22 WEAKER THAN A WOMAN. — thing in which both maids and matrons took a lively in- terest; and it was certain that no engagement ever courted so much discussion as this. How intensely the young farm- ers in the neighborhood detested Felix Lonsdale for having won beautiful Violet! Each one made up his mind that Felix Lonsdale should do no more business for him, and wondered why she preferred a lawyer to a farmer. All the old people thought it a most suitable alliance. Felix and Violet, they said, were equal in position, and marriages of that kind were the best. Mothers who had daughters of their own to marry were thankful that beautiful Violet would rival them no longer. The girls thought that Violet had won a prize, for there was certainly no one in all the country-side like Felix. There was one pure, gentle heart to whom the news of the engagement came like a terrible blow, although it had long been expected. Evelyn Lester had never even owned to herself that she loved Felix Lonsdale, yet, when she heard the news, it seemed to her that the bright face of heaven was hidden from her by a dark funereal pall. They had all been children together, and in their childish quar- rels it was always Evelyn who defended Felix. He could do no wrong in “her eyes; in her opinion the wide world held no other so brave, so handsome, or so noble; and the childish love had unconsciously grown with her—she called it friendship, and believed it to be nothing else. Felix had a real friendship for her, a real admiration, a great esteem, but nothing like love. He lent her books, he frequently asked Mrs. Lonsdale to invite her to the house; but it was all because he was sorry for her, and thought her life lonely and sad. Evelyn was an orphan, left to the tender mercies of a strong-minded aunt, Jane Lester, mistress of the pretty little farm known as the Outlands. Miss Lester would say of herself, “I am nothing if I am not strong- minded,” and therein she spoke the truth. She looked hke a strong-minded woman. She was thin and angular; she had what-she called a useful complexion —the sun did not darken it, nor did the wind ever freshen it into deeper bloom; her gray hair was braided in most severely uncompromising style; her dress was of plain, rich material. In writing the word “woman” she always used a capital “ W,” and a capital “HH” in “ Humanity.” Of men as a whole she had the poorest possible opinion; she had the profoundest contempt for all their sentiments, principles, and inventions. She went to extreme lengths in her views about the rights of women, Where there was — comicbooks.com ~ ' r * 7 , SMe “——— a eC + - ae a OE