Witch Hazel; or, The Secret of the Locket — page 381: what you’re looking at

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

threw herself impatiently into a chair. ‘I suppose you had to tell her that you had already seen me.” “IT told her nothing that need trouble you except that [I would call, as she kindly invited ie to do.” “She must have been surprised to meet you herein Brighton,” sneered the beauty, though she noticed, for the first time, how handsome he looked and how faultlessly he was attired. “Why so?’ he asked. “Brightonis a somewhat expensive place for im- pecunious clerks to frequent.” | “True,” was the brier but quiet reply, while his eyes rested upon her with wistful sorrow. “Chester Osborn, why will you not let me alone?” Helena broke out, angrily. “I willnot be hunted down like a criminal—I will not endure this intoler- able espionage, Why will younot go your way and let me go mine?" “Simply because I cannot, Helena,’ he answered, in a voice fulll of pain, “even though I know you are shallow, vain, aud ambitious, and unworthy the love of atrue, honest heart; although I know you | would ruthlessly crush me or any one else who stood in your path. [have tried to tear yourimage from my heart, but Lcannot. I tell you itis my fate, I suppose, to love you even better than [love myself, and Lain powerless to contend against it. IL know that L promised, when [last saw you, that I would nottrouble you again so long as you remained single— that T had made my last appeal to you. But, eall it foolish weakuess, accuse meof a lack of strength of character if you will—I could not abide by that promise—by that assertion made ina moment of wounded affection and in anger. I love you so en- tirely that I feel my life utterly wrecked, with cle seithont you. The hold you have upon meilu