Witch Hazel; or, The Secret of the Locket — page 245: what you’re looking at

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

faa? Se tS tas oe Pe eee ee ee | | opr uly, my darling, * he replied, with great tender- ness; “but if no one was looking, I should compel you to make amends for doubting my veracity. Take good care of yourself. Do not let me find any more broken bones when [ return, and—don’t lose your heart, Hazel.” | He spoke lightly, but she wondered what he meant by that peculiar emphasis upon the verb. She laughed and flushed as she retorted, with more of meaning than he realized: “Do not ‘fear; ; my heart is in safe keeping.” “T am not so sure of that,’ he returned, a spasm of pain contracting his brow as be noted the flush; ‘T should judge its citadel has been pretty strongly vesieged of late. Ido not wish to meddle, dear,” he added, gravely, but rently, ‘and [ am only thinking of your happiness ; put—l could not bear that any one should (rifle with you. I must go, however. Once more good-b He longed to clasp her in his arms, but he simply lifted his hat, bowed courteously, and then passed ou, while Helena Stewart, who had not once removed her eyes from those two figures since they met, watched Hazel with a jealous eye as she came slowly | up the avenue, a deep flush npon her cheeks, a happy | smile playing about her beautiful lips. | Perey had called her his ‘‘darling’ and her heart was beating in blissful measure to ‘the music of the tones that lingered go tones in Dek ears, A * * + A Two weeks slipped a by, ey the evening of the duchess’ grand reception arrived. It was to he her last one for the season, although she was to remain in Brighton for another fortnight, and everything had been arranged to mak it brilliant affair. colebooeaccae