Witch Hazel; or, The Secret of the Locket — page 234: what you’re looking at

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

| tracted by the charm of Helena’s rare beauty and accomplishments; consequently, this impassioned declaration had taken her wholly by surprise. But she knew from his earnest face, his eager eyes, and the quiver in his voice, chat he was sincere—that he meant every word he uttered; and she had only to lay her hand in his and she need no longer be alone in the world, a poor governess dependent upon the bounty and ecaprice of others, but, instead, a loved and honored wife, occupying a position of which any one might be proud. But—she did not love him; all her heart, all her love belonged to another. The knowledge came to her more forcibly at this moment than ever before, “You do not answer me, Hazel,” Charles Harwood said, with whitening lips, as he looked anxiously upon that downeast face, from which all light and color had fled, and which was marred by an expres- sion of pain. “Will you noterown my life with the blessing of yourlove? Will you not speak and tell me that I[may hope? I can waitif I may but feel that I shall win my prize at last.” Hazel lifted her sorrowful eyes to his face. “Mr. Harwood, what can I say to you?’ she be- gan. ‘“‘Lnever once dreamed that you would ever speak such words, as you have just uttered, to me; I imagined that your heart was drawn in another direction. Butit can never be as you wish—I can- not be your wife.” “Oh, Hazel! I cannot bear such an answer as that,’’ the young man cried, his voice quivering with pain, his handsome face deathly white. “Forgive me if I wound you,” she returned, gently. “Tf Thad ever thought that this confession wa store for me [should not have come STP Oe eats