Weaker than a Woman — page 46: what you’re looking at

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

> ke 7 ee) - * a **% - ot = is - Saat - * —_ WEAKER THAN A WOMAN ~™ 37 with womanish fear; a bright, tender face looked into his, sweet, warm, white hands clasped his, loving lips kissed him, a brave, bright voice cheered him with the music of | home words. “T have heard all about it, Darcy,” said his wife. “* Never mind—no one can injure you. You are innocent, honest, and honorable. Never mind what any one says—Heaven knows the truth, and I love you all the more that you bear this blame so well.”’ Darcy Lonsdale was relieved to find his wife so cheerful, and they sat down to discuss their difficulty. “Give the money back again, Darcy,” said his wife. “If I were in your place I would not touch one shilling of it.” “Tf I did that it would look as though I feared inquiry, as though I knew that I had gained it by wrong means, and remorse compelled me to return it. It seems to me now that I am compelled, in justification of my own honor, to keep it—Mrs. Hardman certainly meant me to have it. Then there are the children—I cannot rob them; Il must not take from them what is really theirs.” “But,” said his wife, “if there should be a trial, and it should go against you ?” “Then I must bear it like aman, Kate. I have had many blessings—if it pleases Heaven to send me a reverse, I must not complain.” But, for all that, she knew that his heart was sore and heavy, and that he was disturbed by a hundred doubts and fears. She soothed him, comforted him, and did her best to encourage him; but she could not persuade him to forget his trouble for a moment—it was always in his thoughts. Presently Helix came in, and one glance at his son’s face told Darcy Lonsdale that he had heard the whole story. The handsome young face was full of emotion. He went straight up to his father, and laid his hand lovingly upon his shoulder. “Let me help you, father,” he said. . “No man shall say one word against you while I live.” And the two men—father and son—shook hands. There was more expressed in that silent grasp than there could have been in a volume of words. * You have heard the story, I suppose, Felix?” said Mrs. Lonsdale. “Yes, I have heard it, and a more cruelly unjust story never was told. Let me help to fight your battle, father. I should like to take every man who believes the Ory or who affects to believe it, and thrash him,” —= - 2% ot, ae a a LA ok iret? ee 8F a Bh Bei ig at) Ee a ae eA tw a ee Pe re r Toe . 4 Pk <- et ikea 3s ings fis. 7475 Cots) ia ma ee Le Carte SS pene ot “ Cpe Ca ig nS Tro ape Oe oe eo ee a ie ae ay - in cad eee ete <' ahs ~~ 4 te... ; toe pee. , SS : oe ae or ‘ Delgoen ed ot es +%, : ‘ , ‘e-em 5 < x P = “ sp es ro: oe | wll wf 4 " *\ z* Le ‘ 2 “ie si 4% “ EComicbooks: co