Weaker than a Woman — page 53: what you’re looking at

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

——~* 4A WEAKER THAN A WOMAN. generosity the family sat around the fire discussing the event. “T shall get well now, Katie,” said Darcy Lonsdale ; “yesterday I felt that it was a matter of indifference to me whether I lived or died, and now I have hope. Some persons in the world retain their old faith in me. I shall get well, and, as Evelyn says, I shall live my trouble down.” He had not been so cheerful since the first shadow of the cloud appeared, and from the depths of her heart, Kate agape blessed the generous girl who had done so much good. “T wish,” she said to herself, “that Felix had chosen Evelyn. I should think of his future with hope if he were going to marry her.” For in the depths of Mrs. Lonsdale’s loving heart there lurked some little fear of beautiful Vio- let Haye. So the winter passed. Mr. Lonsdale recovered his health but slowly ; the spring of his life seemed broken—he found living his trouble down more difficult than he had antici pated. He had withdrawn himself from all positions of — trust; he gave up his office as church warden, he would no longer be overseer. “Tf they could believe that of me,” he said, “I will hold no trust among them.” And he did not. What business was brought to his office he did, but he no longer mixed with his fellow-men. He had taken a leading part in all the business of the town; now he was absent from all the meetings, and there was a sense of remorse among his old friends—a slight feeling — that perhaps after all they had misjudged him. Still he found life hard. There were times when the brave heart would have given way but for the remembrance that the few nearest and dearest to him had trusted him. Felix-had had his difficulties; he had hastened to the Limes as soon as possible after the receipt of his letter. Francis Haye received him coolly. ‘I do not wish,” he said, “to part you from Violet—l do not say that the engagement must be broken off; but I do say that the marriage must not take place until you are in a better position to support a wife.” There was nothing then but for Felix to submit; he had to trample down the wild longing, the passionate love, and his sorrow educated him. He learned patience, persever- ance, endurance, and self-control. The trial would have been easier to bear had he found that Violet was distressed comicbooks ¥ ‘ts 5 i i“ » ak re SS -cO LL «" ated We os ¥ . .