Beadle's Dime Novels No. 3: Myra, the Child of Adoption — page 45: what you’re looking at

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

DECLARATION OF LOVE. 43 “ And never will,” urged the young man, regarding her with a look of deep tenderness. “T don’t know,” was the faint reply, and Zulima’s face fell back on her folded arms again. The young man arose and began to pace up and down the room; many a change passed over his features meanwhile, and he cast his eye from time to time upon the motionless figure of Zulima, with an expression that revealed all the hid- den love, the wild devotion with which he regarded her. He sat down again and took her passive hand. She did not at- tempt to withdraw it. She did not even seem to know that it was in his. “Do you know how I love you—how, with my whole life and strength, I worship you, Zulima?’ he said. “There is nothing on earth that I would not do, could it give you & mo- ment’s happiness.” Zulima slowly unfolded her arms, and lifting her head, looked earnestly in his face with her eyes. She did not seem to understand him. “Oh, you must haye seen how I love you,” he said, pas- sionately. Zulima smiled—oh, what a mocking smile! how full of wild anguish it was! “Another!” she said; “so now an- other loves me.” “ No human being ever loved as I love you, Zulima,” said the young man, in that pure, sweet voice, which had so af- fected her before. | “ That is a marvel,” said Zulima, with a bitter smile. “Oth- ers have loved me so well. You do not know how others have loved me.” “TI do not wish to know any thing except how I can make you happier than you are, Zulima.” “If you wish to_make me happy, do not even mention love to me again. The very word makes me faint,” said Zulima. “T am ill—I suffer. Do not, I pray you, talk this way to me. I can not bear it.” “JT will say nothing that can distress you,” replied the young man gently, but with a look of grief. Zalima reached forth her hand. It was cold and trembling. “Farewell !” she said, very kindly; “I shall go away to- morrow, Farewell !”