The Widowed Bride — page 112: what you’re looking at

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

THE WIDOWED BRIDE, 103 the graveled lawn and disappeared beneath the drooping elm bzanches which overhung the broad swoop of the avenue. 7 ‘Lady Glenhampton does not ask me to go,” she thought, with a bitter curl to her ips. ‘‘She does not think Iam a fitting person to introduce to the county familes; and when Blanche, in the innocent kindness of her heart, asked me to accompany them, my lady put on that hollow society smile of hers, and ‘feared it would be a very uninteresting drive to Miss Percival!’ I wonder if it ever occurred to her ladyship that it would be better to make a friend rather than an enemy, even of an embryo governess! Wait a while, my Lady Glenhampton; perhaps my turn may come next!” With these bitter reflections corroding her heart, Rena Percival put on her white-ribboned hat, and waiked out into the green and shady recesses of the park, for she felt as if the confinement of four walls would suffocate her. ‘Tt is a relief to be alone, at least,” she thought, with a sort of passionate resentment at her heart. But even this poor consolation was to be denied her, it seemed; for in the greenest and coolest and most secluded recess of the park, close to. the wire fence over which the dappled deer, who had never been taught to fear the appa- rition of humanity, came and peeped at her with shy, liquid eyes and quivering nostrils, she came suddenly upon a gen- - tleman walking slowly along, with his broad-brimmed straw hat in his hand, so that the fresh breeze could fan his fore- head. He was tall, with dark hair and eyes, and a slight, well- made-figure, and at the first glance Rena could hardly tell whether he was old, young, or middle-aged. “I beg your par don,” ” he said, with polished courtesy, as _ she involuntarily started. a hope I have not alarmed Miss Percival.” So he knew who she was. Rena took courage and looked him full in the face. ‘«‘Are you Captain Evelyn?” she asked, with a sudden thought that the travelers mug he possibly have arr ved sooner than they had expected. ‘‘T have not that honor,” Hes said, with a smile. J am only Mr. Poynings, the family lawyer, of whom you have, _ perhaps, heard the ladies at the Castle speak.” “comicbooks:co Af]