The Wreck of the South Pole and Other Strange Tales — page 207: what you’re looking at

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

200 ‘The Little Girl, Now a Woman. “Who is it, Tom?” I asked, thinking his mind was wandering. | | “T’ve never told you. I didn’t want to. But now I must see her. I haven’t talked to her for eight years. It will do no good—we never could be more to one an- other, but I want that little hand in mine once again be- fore I die. We have been apart so long—so long, Paul!” “Is she good and kind? Will she come? You know this is hardly the place for a young lady.” “Yes, she will come if you ask her. She is good and true, or I would have forgotten her. But even if she were not, I should like to see the little gir_—Mamie.”’ I put on my hat and prepared to go upon the errand. ‘Who did you say it was, Tom?” “Mamie Crowell. You know it all now. She loved my brother, but they were separated. I couldn't help loving her still, but I kept it a secret. Oh, Paul! you understand all of the loneliness of my life now!” I went out and left him alone. I met Miss Crowell on her way to church and she came back with me. I opened the door of Tom’s room and let her pass in; and then turned away. | At last, Tom’s dream of happiness was realized. His loneliness was over. Fora short time, as he had so often wished, his boyhood’s love was with him. I knew she would sit down and lay her hand in his, although she might only dimly guess the truth. She did not love him as he wished, yet hers was also so sad a life that she could sympathize with him. And perhaps her woman’s EOMIGHOOKS (E(@)