Witch Hazel; or, The Secret of the Locket — page 331: what you’re looking at

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

> at . fw ae pained face. **Hazel—tell me—do you, will you love me?” he pleaded. “Oh, Lord Hartwell! what made you do this? I never suspected—I cannot,” she faltered, her voice dying away in an agonized tone. “You never suspected it?” he repeated, catching at aray of hope, ‘I have taken you wholly by sur- prise, and you need time to realize it! Dear, you Shall have all the time you will. Iimighthave waited | but I could not bear to let you go without a gleam of hope to cheer me when you are gone.” ““No—no; I cannot give it you; forgive me for wounding you so,” she continued, with almost a sob as she saw the look of despair that overspread his face. ‘‘I know that I owe youa great deal but——’” He suddenly dropped her hands, which he had held until now, and straightened himself, all the light and eagerness gone out of his fine face. “You. owe me nothing.” he said, in a hollow tone. “Tf you cannot freely give me your love, there is nothing else I wish. But, oh, Hazel, are you sure ?” “Yes, I am sure,” she replied, sadly, but firmly. ‘I do not love you as you wish—not well enough to be your wife, and ny heart tells me that I never can. I grieve to pain you, my kind frieud, but I know—you know, that truth is best.’’ lord Nelson knew that she was speaking only truth—that his suit was hopeless. He arose and stood before her, white and still, for a moment, looking down upon her, an intense yearn- ing in his despairing eyes. “Tf must be as you say, of course,” he said; spat, oh, Hazel, I feel almost as if you had de eld ne Jy death- -blow. Fee eommicls oat a” 6] 2s oe = % 15 ae