The Wreck of the South Pole and Other Strange Tales — page 155: what you’re looking at

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

148 What Shall She Do? “And yet it is true,’ she went on. “You think me cold, and I am, but you have never thought that it was studied coldness, a coldness which was not natural to me. And you think Iam happy! Well, so I have been, in a measure. But what will it be now? You are my boy, and I can tell you what I am thinking to-night. I would give all my life for one day of fifteen years ago. When I was a girl I loved a young man, but he was wealthy and I poor, and his parents managed to separate us. We were engaged at the time. No harsh means were used— we were simply parted. “T lived in the neighborhood for several years and then came West and married. Why did I marry? When you are older you will understand better, perhaps. It 1s wo- man’s nature, her fate to marry. Some donot? Yes, I know it, but that very fact sets them up as guide boards pointing young girls to matrimony. “When John did not return and I heard nothing from him, I at last began to think that he had forgotten me. That was a hard time, Paul. Life seemed worth very little. Then I met my husband, and he was kind and good, and | thought at last that I might grow to love him. At least there would be a deep respect which would make life bearable, and | wanted some one for my own. So we were married, and our life has been happy, or rather peaceful. But I have never loved him and he knows it. I am sorry, oh! so sorry for him. We have often talked it over, and, Paul, he 1s very good tome. I do love him in a manner. Gomicbooks (Ee)