The Widowed Bride — page 162: what you’re looking at

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

THE WIDOWED BRIDE. 153 your heart against me! You will give me yet another op- portunity to regain the place in your esteem I have so in- sanely lost. Let me come to you a month hence for my answer, and in the meantime try to love mea little in re- turn for the undivided homage of my whole heart.” ‘‘Neither months nor years would work any change in my feelings,” she answered, resolutely. ‘‘Captain Evelyn, I have given you my final decision, and I forbid you to accom- pany me any farther?” She walked on, with royal step and dignified mien, never once turning her head back toward the spot where Ernest Evelyn stood, white as a marble statue, and full of a blank, yearning despair. . -_€*Poor fellow!’ she thought; ‘‘yet, had I worded it more gently, he would, inevitably, have construed pity into a warmer feeling. I do believe he loved me, and yet my soul could never have recognized in him the master-spirit of its existence. A month ago | believe I should have accepted him in exultant pride at being the chosen wife of Lady Glenhampton’s son and Lady Blanche Arden’s brother; — now, all the world bears a different aspect to me.” She could feel her face glow in the semi-darkness of the ~ balmy spring evening, as she asked herself the question why this was so. She could feel the soft, muffled beatings of her heart, and was content that it should be thus. ‘‘Miss Percival!” | She started convulsively, with a slight cry of terror, as the shubbery rustled at her side, and a tall figure stood close to her, but the next instant she recognized Lord Vere Temple. ‘“T am a careless blockhead to frighten you thus, Miss Percival,” he said, evidently much vexed with himself; ‘‘but I wanted to see you before you reached the house.” ‘Ts any one ill?” she asked, pausing abruptly. ‘Not that I am aware of. Why?” ‘I could only conclude from your manner that you were the messenger of evil things,” she answered, dryly. He laughed. “My manner must be peculiarly unfortunate,” he said. _ ‘Perhaps you have not perceived that I have been trying to secure a private interview with you for the last few days?” ‘‘T have not perceived it,” she answered, curtly; ‘‘nor can (@(oy paylicel exeyo) <S (Glo) mM