The Wasp, 1913 · page 139 of 364
The Wasp — 1913 — page 139: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This appears to be a **literary excerpt rather than a political cartoon**. The page contains dialogue between two characters—James and an unnamed woman—in what seems to be a serialized story or novel. The scene depicts a dramatic confrontation where James reminisces about past romantic entanglement. He references sacrificing a respectable life (a parsonage in Wantage) for the woman, claiming continued devotion despite her previous deception. He contrasts his constancy unfavorably with another man named Stanton. The woman mentions a third man, "Percy," suggesting a love triangle or complex romantic situation. The physical detail of James holding her hand against her resistance suggests Victorian-era melodrama. **Without additional context or visible images/cartoons on this page, the specific satirical target remains unclear.** This may be part of a serialized narrative *The Wasp* published, or commentary on contemporary romantic scandals through fictional narrative.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
136 THE WASP “T am here,” she said unsteadily. “What is it you want to say to me? Be quick with it, please.” “There is no need for haste that I can see,’ re- plied James. “My dear little kitten, if I did not know you as well as I do, I might think that you were sorry to be here; but in the light of the past, my sweet puss, I cannot think that. You played a trick on me that few men would forgive in a life- time; but I have forgiven you. I was always a fool about you, my dear; and, by Heaven, [ still am! What d’ye think of that for constancy? But for you, my beauty, I’d be a parson now, with tithes and rents, snug in Wantage vicarage and the odor of sanctity, and with my name still intact in my father’s will. That’s the truth, my dear, as well you know. And here I am still a fool and ready to break myself again for you. Would Stan- ton do or dare as much for you? Not he!” He caught one of her hands, and, though she made a quick, brief effort to withdraw it, he held it tight. She trembled and kept her face averted. “Percy would venture anything for me,” she Comichooks.com