The Widowed Bride — page 152: what you’re looking at

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

THE WIDOWED BRIDE, 143 never seen her! I wish it from the very bottom of my heart!” While these disjointed thoughts were passing through her mind, the footman entered with a card in his hand. ‘For Lady Blanche Arden,” he said, looking donbtfully at Rena, who had so carefully instructed him, in the absence of the family, that all cards or messages for Lady Blanche were to be brought directly to her. But Lady Blanche rose from the piano and took the card from its silver salver at once. ; “The Marquis of Balfour,” she read upon the delicately engraved surface of the slip of cardboard. ‘‘Why, mamma, that is Lady St. Burgoyne’s son, is it not?” “To be sure,” said the countess. ‘‘And it is certainly © very attentive of him to call. Show him up at once, Par- kinson,”’ Parkinson bowed and disappeared with his customary “Yes, my lady.” And Rena Percival, who had grown first scarlet, and then pale, rose up and sat down again, as if un- decided what course to pursue. ‘‘Are you ill, Miss Percival?” asked Captain Evelyn, with solicitude, and Lady Blanche looked up. ‘Don’t go, Rena, darling,” she said; ‘‘stay here. It is not probable that Lord Balfour will make a long call.” And as the opposite door opeiied and Parkinson ushered Lord Balfour into the apartment, Rena leaned back in her seat, closing her eyes, as the victim of the French guillotine might do before the hideous, shining ax descended upon her bared throat. It was too late even to flee away and hide herself now. She must face her fate. But to Lady Glenhampton’s infinite astonishment, the Marquis of Balfour, instead of greeting her, walked straight across the room to Miss Percival. ‘‘Good-evening, Lady Blanche,” he said, with bright cor- diality. She looked at him with wild, frightened eyes like those of a hunted deer, but she spoke no word of answer, and Lady Glenhampton instantly interposed. “There is some mistake, Lord Balfour,” she said, cour- teously. ‘I am the Countess of Glenhampton, and this is my daughter, Lady Blanche Arden. The young lady whom you are addressing is Miss Percival, my daughter’s com- panion.” | (E(@) mn =a é comicbooks