Activate Javascript or update your browser for the full Digital Library experience.
Previous Page
–
Next Page
OCR
you with me
20 002COt WILD MARGARET,
“Forgive me, Violet! Do you not see that Tam only, -
seeming hard and cruel? Do you think that my heart
does not bleed for you?) But what can Ido? You force.
me to tell you the truth in all its nakedness; for I know that
if I donot convince you that you have no other alternative, ~
you will not yield! Do not force me to say any more;
accept the inevitable. Say the word; give me your prom-
ise to be ready at the time I have named, and I will take
>? a
’ “Never! never!’ she said, hoarsely, and endeavoring
to draw her hand from his grasp.
‘What do you fear? Why do you shrink from me?
Do you think that Ido not love you?. What stronger proof
do you vant than that I havegiven you? Have I not done
more to win you than one man ina million does for the
“woman he wants? If it had been murder itself I would
not have hesitated, I would not hesitate now! . Ah, Violet!
think of me a little. I, too, have suffered, suffered the ©
tortures of the damned, for it was my hand that gave you |
—for a time—to him! Ihave stood by and seen you the
wife of another, the man I hate——”
‘* Hate!—you hate him?”’ she re-echoed.
‘“Yes,” he said, a lurid light shining in his eyes, ‘I
always hated him because you loved him! Many and
many a time I have longed to see him dead at my feet—
but no more of that! What does it matter? It is only of
my love for you that I wish to think or speak. Trust
yourself to my love, the deepest and truest man ever felt.
I will marry you when and where you please; I will spend
the remainder of. my life in devotion to you; I will——”’
he stopped breathless, and carried away by his passion,
he threw his arms about her.
She struggled from his embrace, and even struck at -
him.
“Go with you! she gasped. ‘‘Leave him for you 2”
and she laughed wildly. ‘tI would rather die!”
“Very good. I may take that as your. decision? In
half an hour I take Blair to his wife; in half an hour I will
tell him how he came to lose her, and that it was you—
Violet Graham—who tempted and prompted me to carry
out the plot which has nearly wrecked his life. And then
I leave you to face him.”’
_ He took one step from her, but she sprung up and throw-
ing herself at his feet clutched at his arm.
‘No, no! Give me time! Wait, Austin! Only wait!
I—I did not mean to be hard. I—I—oh, have pity on
me!” and she turned her white face up to him. “‘ Have -
pity onme! Iwas only a woman, and I—I did love him
SOA ewe HS
Seen ctewen, ete
Se risen oem er pment
es eenhiiamimenee tee 2
eeeeehaitiateereren