The Widowed Bride — page 164: what you’re looking at

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

THE WIDOWED BRIDE. 155 fancy, and I can’t rest until I have unburdened my abomin- able little heart of it!” ‘‘What was it?’ asked Rena, caressingly, touching the bright hair of the girl. “T fancied at one time—of course it was all my imagina- tion, dearest—that he liked you, and that you would have been pleased to be Lady Vere T’emple!” ‘What aridiculous idea!” said Rena, with the utmost gravity. ‘‘Was it not?” cooed the happy young creature, secure in her own empire of youth and love. ‘‘Of course I know it now, but I was very wretched at one time!” | ‘‘And served you right!’ said Rena. ‘‘Now, Blanche, lis- ten to me—whatever may happen in the future, and no one can tell what possibility lies before us—never doubt or dis- believe in me again! Promise me this!” And Blanche Arden, holding her friend close to her heart, murmured softly and fervently: -**T promise!” Lady Glenhampton went to her son’s room that night, after the drawing-room circle had broken up, and the guests dispersed—perhaps she had something more to say to him about Miss Cardiff, the Welsh heiress—and tapped softly at the door. | “Come in!” he called, recklessly. She pushed open the door and entered. The lights were flaring to and fro in the draughts from the open window— the floor-was strewn witn the disorderly concomitants of packing, while Captain Evelyn sat in an easy-chair, pale and haggard, directing the actions of Hermann, his servant, who knelt before an open yalise. ‘‘Krnest!” she exclaimed, stopping short in her amaze- ment. “Ts it you, mother? Sit down—there’s room enough here somewhere, I suppose,” and he pushed a pile of books from a cushioned chair. ‘‘But what does it mean, Ernest? You are not going away?” ‘“Yes, I am!” he answered, moodily. ‘“Where?” ‘I don’t know—to Jericho, for all I care! Anywhere away from this place!” “But, Ernest, Miss Cardiff is coming to-morrow!” GOmicboo cS m (ao)