Witch Hazel; or, The Secret of the Locket — page 291: what you’re looking at

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

of Hazel, and her admiration was kindled anew for the noble spirit of self-sacritice which she had ex- hibited. "Oh, pray, do not blame him," Hazel earnestly cried, “for the fault is entirely my own. His grand- father cared for me #8 long as helived, and Percy took the burden upon his shoulders after his death. Bub my money—the five thousand dollare found in the belt around my wadst—ivas all spent.on my edu- cation; for they both insisted that I shonld have every advantage, ond—after that I felt that L could not bea burden upon him. I had really no claim upon him, you know, although we were as you bare said almostiike brother and sister; and, though he wanted to make a home for me after I graduated, T —Lecould not acceptit. I had made up my mind that it was right I should try to take care of myself and T insisted upon being a governess; I even en- gaged myself to Mrs. Stewart before telling him, und he wos very much displeased with me for doing so." The duchess smiled. She, with her womanly in- stinot, could read between the lines, and began to conjecture why Hazel lad been so sensitive about sharing Dr. Morton's home. “When I met bim here in Brighton, on the evening of Miss Stewart's wecident,” the young girl con- tinued, "I was taken entirely by surprise, and my tlrat thought wag, ‘neople will blame and despise hin if they lenru that we were brought up toyether, and thav he, with plenty of means, would allow we to work for my living,’ I- knew Loould not explain it to overybody, {t would be very awlkward and uncom- fortable and so I begged him to let it remain a secret und ect mo as a stranger. At first he flatly refused to do as 1 wishod, and was very much put out that I should ask such a thing; but when | urged it, he finally snidT should hive my own why. Miiarc not felt right about it for some time and [dia not imovw, then, that Percy wowld spend any time in Brighton, I thought he was simaply down fora day or two and T did not imagine that that ong act would result in a continual deception, I know it was not right, and I have felt sorry over jt; but I can prove all this to you for [ have all of ai Jetters, and you shall see every one,” she concluded, turning to the duchess with charming frankness, and infinitely relieved to have a this mystery regarding Percy and herself nt an end. “Dear child, your simple word will always be to me sutticient proof of anything,” her grace said, deeply touched and her heart ete LY Andee regarding the girl's purlty and nobility Counc Rook ocoi