Weaker than a Woman — page 58: what you’re looking at

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

ee _ = * WEAKER THANA WOMAN. + 49 he, the sporting baronet, as he liked to hear himself called, to do with school-children? He sent a check which caused the good vicar to open his eyes. Then, some one having told him that all the elzte of the neighborhood attended the fete, he went. In a field near the vicarage the school-children played to their hearts’ content; while in the vicarage grounds the — elite enjoyed themselves in quieter fashion. The military band from Oldstone was there, pretty white tents were erected, there were croquet and law tennis, quadrilles for those who liked dancing, and archery for those who en- joyed shooting. Sir Owen Chevenix, having heard that all the pretty girls in the neighborhood would be there, de- cided on going himself. No one but Doctor and Mrs. Hun- ter knew of his intention, and they had kept it a secret, in- tending to surprise their guests. As a matter of course, beautiful Violet Haye was to be there. Evelyn Lester had been invited, and the vicar had discussed with his wife the advisability of sending an invitation to Felix Lonsdale. “There is a black mark against the whole family,” said the vicar, who forgot at times that his gospel was the gos- pel of peace, and thought more of justice than of mercy. “TI do not say that Darcy Lonsdale was guilty of that which was laid to his charge, but there is a mark against him.” “ Against the father, David, but not the son,” corrected his wife. “You might as well try to distinguish between husband and wife as between father and son,” rejoined the vicar. “There is another thing,” said the diplomatic lady; “we must ask Violet Haye. She is, in truth, the greatest at- traction we shall have to offer, and, as they are lovers, I do not quite see how they can be parted on such an occa- sion.” _“T shall do it against my will,” remarked the vicar. — “Well, that is far better than not doing it at all,” replied Mrs. Hunter. “It will be a kind of test; if we see that peo- ple seem shy of Felix Lonsdale, we must not ask him again.” so Felix received an invitation. If he had known how and why it was given to him he would have placed it under his heel and have gone twenty miles in an opposite direc- tion; as it was, it gave him unbounded pleasure. He was to meet Violet; he would spend a whole half-day with her ; he would see her beautiful and admired, yet with the proud consciousness that she was his—all his—his promised wife ; and when he reached that point in his réflections he re- Comicbooks €o mn