The Wreck of the South Pole and Other Strange Tales — page 214: what you’re looking at

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

A Chicago Romance. Lar “If you wish any fire over the dead embers of that flame, my advice is to send for a bottle of tognac for both of us.” “T see you are cool enough and will proceed. You knew Tom Jones?” “Yes. He was the poor fellow she treated so badly. He blew out his brains soon after she dismissed him. I never spoke to her after it happened.” “Well! You know Tom was my chum at college.” “T believe I do remember something about it.” “When she treated him so badly my curiosity was ex- cited. I wished to see what power she had over men. Now that I am confiding in you, I might as well confess the whole truth—I thought I would test my flirting pow- ers against hers!” “You decided to make her love you, and ended in be- coming an exile from unrequited love. George, forgive me for speaking so lightly. J am very sorry for you!” “You forget,’ George interposed, “that I said I never loved Helen Lawson.” “T don’t understand you. Go on.” “After poor Tom’s death, I placed myself in her way. Did not seek her—paid her no attention. Only continued to meet her as if by accident. And when we did meet, I treated her coolly—as I would treat one in whom I could not possibly have any interest. She heard of my ex- pressed dislike for her, and after a time began to draw me out. I! would treat her courteously, but never allowed myself to become her wooer. She was always left to conmmiclooolk (©)