The Widowed Bride — page 161: what you’re looking at

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

152 : THE WIDOWED BRIDE. But she said nothing, only walked along, locking very stately and dignified. ‘‘And it is this,” he added, seeing that no convenient ver- bal halting-place offered itself: ‘Miss Percival, I love you, and I would fain make you my wife.” In the momentary silence that ensued, Ernest Evelyn fancied that she could hear the strong, tumultuous throb- bing of his heart. | “TI dare say ve said it awkwardly,” he went on. “TI never possessed the gift of expression that some fellows have; but not the smoothest talker of them all could love you more — dearly and earnestly than I do.” ‘Captain Evelyn,” said Rena, hurriedly, ‘please ‘unsay what you have just told me. Let me believe that it is all a mistake—a misinterpretation of your own feelings!” ‘“‘T love you,” he repeated, slowly, ‘‘as a man never loves but once in his hfe. Miss Percival, I cannot unsay it, for it is a part of my very existence. Give me my answer. I cannot endure the suspense very long. ‘ell me, yes or no— will you be my wife?” “No!” she answered, calmly. ‘““Why not?” he demanded, turning upon her almost sav- agely. yee I do not love you. Is not that reason enough?” ‘It would bea good match for you in the eyes of the. world, Rena,” he persisted, scarcely able to realize that he had actually been rejected by his sister’s companion. “T do not care for the world.” ‘‘Rena,” he exclaimed, speaking in the low, husky voice of intense passion, ‘‘you have been playing double. You think that Lord Vere Temple’s wealth and position would be a brighter prize than the devotion of a poor soldier. But you are mistaken there—Vere Temple is as good as the betrothed: bridegroom of Lady Blanche Arden, and if he dares to flirt with any other woman alive, I would as soon put a bullet through his brain as to shoot down a partridge. You had better beware, and so I warn you!” “I do not need your warning,” Rena answered, with quiet dignity. ‘‘Lord Vere Temple is nothing to me. Captain Evelyn, you were my friend before, you are fast forfeiting all claim to that title now.’ ‘Rena! Rena!” he moaned, in broken accents. ‘‘I have | been a mad fool—an idiot—but you will not treasure it in ~comicbooks.com