The Widowed Bride — page 87: what you’re looking at

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

78 ‘THE WIDOWED BRIDE. rkaeenk him!” Rena opened wide her lovely hazel eyes with an expression of astonished incredulity as to whether she had heard her sister aright. ‘‘I! Accept Decimus Kent!” «“Why not, dear Rena?” “Look at me!” Rena drew herself up to her full height. ‘Tyo I appear like the sort of person to bury myself alive in a London curacy? ‘They call me pretty—nay, I can see it for myself when I look into the glass—that beauty shall mark out for mea career suchas I have always sighed for. I, to marry Decimus Kent! Alice, I think you must be a lit- le demented!” «“Rena!” ‘‘Don’t look so grave and grieved, little one. Iam only saying out what others think. We are both standing on life’s threshold, and who can tell what possibilities of un- tried fate may lie before us. Do you think I would eclipse all hopes and chances in the humdrum name and life of Mrs. Decimus Kent?” ‘But he is a good man, Rena.” ‘And I don’t pretend to be in any way allied to the tribe of earthly angels, so you see we shouldn’t assimi-_ late.” «‘And he loves you!” ‘So I mean shall a good many people before I have reached middle life.” ‘““Rena! Rena!” said Alice, gravely, shaking her head, ‘‘vou are too ambitious.” ‘No, | am not—no one who has her own way to make in the world can be too ambitious. Beauty is a powerful en- gine, and I mean niine shall serve me well. Who knows, ‘out te lite eS » 4 pt ~ i Poet <a! OR apa iy ee a. x 3 oe he APF ha ~> Sie >, wa eh oP ees ‘ ) f+ little Alice, perhaps some day I may wear a coronet on my brow!” <‘Do you set wealth and station above happiness! aks ‘I mean to have both. Hush! there is a knock at the door. Come in, whoever you are.’ It was Nancy, the door girl. ‘“‘Miss Hartford’s compliments, Miss Percival, and Miss Alice, and would like to have you come to her in her room for a few minutes, if quite agreeable to you.’ ~~ comicbooks. com